The private rental sector in London is massive and seems to grow practically year on year. The stats from different housing studies claim over 30% of households in London now rent privately. This accounts to well over 2.5 million people. Because it is such a huge industry, it gets a lot of attention. Landlords have a responsibility to ensure they are providing safe, habitable properties. We want to have a closer look at this here in light of a worrying recent story about a property in Heston. Then if you want to discuss guaranteed rent in Hounslow with us, we’re happy to offer advice.

The story

A rogue landlord with an outbuilding in a garden of a home on Worthing Road got a massive punishment for renting it out to a family. The case was decided just before Christmas (23rd December). It left the landlord with fines and penalties totalling over £81,000.

The main criticism here was that the outbuilding was “wholly unsuitable for people to live in”. It is just 25m/sq, including a living area, a bathroom, and a kitchen. This fails to meet minimum space requirements for a single person, let alone a family.

There was also criticism of the landlord’s decision not to comply with a demolition order. Hounslow Council had issued the enforcement notice to demand removal of the unsafe outbuilding. However, there was no action. Speak to us about guaranteed rent in Hounslow.

The breakdown of the penalties includes a £14,000 fine. Plus, there was a penalty of almost £60,000 for rents recouped (although there was no figure given of how much rent money the landlord had earned). Finally, there was over £7,500 of legal costs.

A clear message

Deputy Leader of Hounslow Council, Tom Bruce, had strong comments about the case. He said the fines and penalties send a “clear message” to rogue landlords. Notably, it shows the local authority will “take robust enforcement action”.

The situation is a timely reminder that landlords must have homes that are suitable for occupation. They have an obligation to ensure properties are safe and won’t compromise the health and wellbeing of tenants.

Talk to us about guaranteed rent in Hounslow

A great way to avoid some of the potential pitfalls private landlords can encounter is to work with us. We specialise in guaranteed rent, arranging services with local councils. There is a lower risk of issues here because we can help to ensure that properties are habitable and likely to be accepted. There can also be guidance from the councils, including specifications of the kind of properties they want.

So, get in touch and ask us about guaranteed rent in Hounslow today. It would be our pleasure to advise you and ensure you get the perfect service.