Northampton landlord prosecuted for operating eight unlicensed HMOs
Housing19 October 2023
A Northampton landlord has been prosecuted for operating eight unlicensed Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) as well as a range of breaches of the HMO Management Regulations 2006.
The case follows an inspection of the properties in Hinton Road, Obelisk Rise, Culworth Crescent, Kingsthorpe Avenue, Aynho Crescent and Chalcombe Avenue by West Northamptonshire Council’s (WNC) Housing Enforcement Team in late 2019 and early 2022.
During this time officers found a significant number of failings in the HMOs regarding fire safety, cleanliness and maintenance, and effective arrangements for the disposal of waste.
The landlord, Faiz Hammed, of Moulton Grange, admitted charges against four of the properties, and was found guilty of charges relating to the other four during a trial at Northampton Magistrates Court on 10 October.
At the hearing last week, the District Judge described Mr Hammed as being the ‘controlling mind of the operation’, which also included his brother Ahmed Saeed.
Mr Saeed, of Dixon Road, Northampton, pleaded guilty to his involvement with one of the properties, and Ms Victoria Cebotari, of Icknield Drive Northampton, pleaded guilty to her involvement in two of the properties.
The District Judge who heard the case deferred sentencing to 1 March 2024.
Mr Waheed Ahmed, a further relation to Mr Hammed, pleaded guilty to his involvement with one of the properties and has been sentenced previously.
Residents’ health and safety was put at serious risk because of this landlord who defied the laws which are there to protect people and keep them safe.Councillor Adam Brown, Deputy Leader of WNC and Cabinet Member for Housing, Culture and Leisure
I am pleased the courts have recognised the seriousness of these offences and hope that the sentencing will act as an example to deter other rogue landlords and persuade them to comply with the law in future.
I would urge anyone with concerns about a HMO to report it via our website so that we can carry out an investigation and make renting safer for residents in West Northamptonshire.