Latest news with #HounslowCouncil
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Yahoo
West London woman rented her outbuilding for £1,300 a month - she has to pay £70k after being busted
Hounslow Council has successfully prosecuted and fined a woman thousands of pounds for illegally renting an outbuilding as a home. The West London council says it is 'cracking down' on illegal rentals in the borough. Thillakarani Ratnam, of 43 Chatsworth Crescent, was fined over £70,000 after a prolonged investigation, led by the Hounslow Council Planning Enforcement Team. Ms Ratnam was caught advertising the outbuilding for rent at £1,300 a month in 2017. In the period she was illegally letting the building as a residential property, she accumulated £35,000 in rent. After failing to comply with an enforcement notice to cease use and remove all kitchen and bathroom facilities from the building, the council decided to take further action. READ MORE: Uxbridge power cut latest update from SSE and when it will be back READ MORE: Cause of Hayes fire revealed by fire brigade Working alongside the Metropolitan Police, the council discovered the building continued to be occupied despite warnings. Ms Ratnam was forced to pay a £15,000 fine, more than £20,000 in court costs, and was forced to repay the £35,000 raked in from the illegal rental. Hounslow Council say in recent months enforcements have been issued against 24 unlicensed HMOs. Additionally, two civil penalties, 10 warnings and four formal improvement notices have been issued to landlords in the borough. The Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor Tom Bruce, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that he attended the enforcement visit against the rogue landlord. He said: "Sometimes I go along because I think it's important to see what is going on. "There were lots of safety issues and officers had tried to work with the landlady, letting her know it was illegal and she had to stop. Some may say it takes too long to deal with but it's important not to go in over the top, because we can sort it out." He added: "With illegal rentals there can be a huge number of safety issues, if they aren't compliant and so on. They can have boilers in the wrong place, electrical things not working properly, so there is always that danger element. "Sometimes these places don't have carbon monoxide alarms which if your boiler leaks, the tenant will die. It's for those reasons we have to make sure properties being let are suitable, and if they aren't we will take action." The council's financial investigators were crucial in uncovering the extent of gains from this illegal activity, which the council say indicates its resolve in tackling unscrupulous rental practices. Hounslow Council says it will continue to monitor housing compliance issues and will respond to ensure that all residents have access to safe and lawful housing options. Have a story you want to share? Email Don't miss out on the biggest West London news. Sign up to our MyWestLondon newsletter HERE for all the latest daily news and more.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'This affects everyone': West London borough in fresh clamp down on 'overcrowded' and 'cramped' HMOs
A West London council is planning to tighten controls on HMOs [Houses in Multiple Occupation]. The proposed licensing scheme aims to 'improve the management and standards' of HMOs in the borough. Hounslow Council has launched a consultation seeking residents' opinions on the plans, which seek to extend licensing requirements to smaller HMOs. The new scheme will include all smaller HMOs where facilities are shared and are occupied by three or four people. This includes 'Flats in Multiple Occupation' in large blocks, which are currently not included in the HMO licensing scheme. Additionally, all HMOs that have been 'poorly subdivided' into self contained flats or studios without relevant approval will also be covered by the scheme. READ MORE: South Ruislip stabbing outside Lidl leaves man fighting for life READ MORE: South Ruislip stabbing outside Lidl sees man rushed to hospital - attacker on the run Hounslow Council says the scheme will help tackle antisocial behaviour and poor standards and management of the 'difficult to manage' properties, which can 'present serious risk of harm' to tenants. In 2020, Hounslow introduced similar measures to tackle issues caused by HMOs. This defined HMOs as a home occupied by three or more persons in two or more households, sharing facilities. Prior to this, an HMO only required a licence for a house of five or more tenants. Since the introduction of the 2020 licensing policy the council has issued 937 warnings, and over 750 notices relating to safety. The local authority has also issued 51 civil penalties in the subsequent five years. If the council proceeds with the new HMO licensing scheme, this will need to be approved by Cabinet. Once approval is given, the scheme is expected to commence in November 2025 when the current scheme expires. Councillor Tom Bruce, Cabinet Member for Assets, Regeneration and Development at Hounslow Council, said: "We are committed to ensuring all residents are provided with good quality, safe, and secure accommodation. We will continue to work with landlords to improve property standards and management in our HMO accommodation and we will not hesitate to take strong enforcement action against rogue landlords that fail to comply. By renewing the additional licensing scheme, the only choice they have is take it or leave it. "This regulation is also so important in helping to reduce antisocial behaviour and the social issues that stem from overcrowding and cramped living conditions. This affects everyone in our communities, so please use this opportunity to have your say." The consultation is now live, and residents are invited to give feedback via the Hounslow Council website. Have a story you want to share? Email Don't miss out on the biggest West London news. Sign up to our MyWestLondon newsletter HERE for all the latest daily news and more. West London council plan to tighten controls on 'overcrowded' 'cramped' HMOs
