Southampton HMO's need to be properly managed otherwise this could happen!!

Both a landlord and letting agent have been fined £3,000 plus costs, after being found guilty of running an unlicenced HMO where seven people were rescued from a fire.

Owner Wimalendran Jeyaruban and letting agent Chaudry Amir Ijaz did not register the Croydon property, which had five paying tenants at the time of the fire.

During a blaze at the flat earlier this year, seven people were led to safety by firefighters and five others were rescued from a neighbouring property.

A subsequent inspection by council housing enforcement officers found there were five people permanently living at the flat, all of whom paid £150 per month to Ijaz.

Jeyaruban had previously agreed to empty the unlicensed flat in 2012 after the council discovered it was being used as a HMO . However, he decided to ignore the council warnings and let it out to Ijaz, who in turn rented it as a HMO , despite having no HMO licence himself.

In addition to the fines, both were ordered to pay the court £2,500 in costs.

http://www.landlordtoday.co.uk/news_features/Croydon-landlord-and-agent-fined-for-failing-to-register-fire-damaged-house-as-HMO