A landlord has lost an appeal against a penalty notice issued by Hillingdon Council for five breaches of HMO regulations.
Pradeep Kapoor, who jointly owns a two-storey house with his wife in Hayes, was found to have not complied with the regulations after four inspections in September 2021 and another in December 2021.
The council found a number of issues with the property, including a lack of fire safety measures, exposed electrical wiring, and a defective front door lock. The council provided Kapoor with its findings after the inspections in September, providing him with ample opportunity to remedy the issues identified. However, while he addressed some of the issues, the majority remained unresolved.
Kapoor was issued with a notice of intention for the fines totalling £6,500 on 13 January 2022 and sent a final notice on 12 May 2022. Kapoor appealed the decision on 9 June 2022 but the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) found in the council’s favour on 3 April 2023 following an appeal hearing on 27 February 2023.
Cllr Eddie Lavery, Hillingdon Council’s Cabinet Member for Residents Services, said: “This case serves as a reminder to landlords that they are not above the law – they have a duty to proactively manage all of their properties, routinely identifying and resolving problems as they arise.”
Lavery continued: “Kapoor flagrantly ignored a multitude of issues which not only broke the law but put the safety of his tenants at risk. The council is committed to creating safe and strong communities, and we’ll always take action against rogue landlords who flout the rules.”
