.jpg)
-
17/12/25 3:30 pm
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
A landlord pair from Uxbridge have been ordered to pay £7,177 after renting out an unlicensed and unsafe HMO where the fire brigade was called.
Naveen Seth, of Manor Waye, admitted charges of operating an unlicensed HMO, failing to comply with an improvement notice and breaching housing regulations, while Savita Seth admitted operating an unlicensed HMO.
Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court heard that following a complaint made by one of their five tenants in November 2024 about water penetration, damp and electrical issues, an inspection by Hillingdon Council officers revealed that the three-storey home in Old School Road was operating as an HMO without a licence.
Officers also uncovered multiple breaches of management regulations. These included missing mains-wired smoke detectors, inadequate fire doors, obstructed escape routes, unserviced fire extinguishers, along with dirty conditions and general disrepair.
The council served an improvement notice requiring all issues to be resolved by March 2025 however an inspection in April found this had not been complied with. A month later, the fire brigade was called to the property due to a smoking hob and noted the lack of fire doors.
Councillor Steve Tuckwell, cabinet member for planning, housing and growth (pictured), says the authority has recently announced stronger powers to monitor and control the impact of HMOs. “This prosecution shows how seriously the council takes these matters,” he adds. “Poorly managed HMOs can have a significant impact not only on tenants, but also on neighbouring residents and the wider community, particularly where properties are not properly managed.”
The court was told that each defendant had a previous conviction for fraud which was taken into consideration during sentencing. Naveen Seth, 57, was fined £657, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £263 and the council’s prosecution costs of £5,268. Savita Seth, 56, was fined £253, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £101 and prosecution costs of £585.
Tags:
.avif)
Comments