KEWAL Singh Kajla has become the first landlord in the London borough of Hounslow to be prosecuted for failing to licence a shared house.
Kajla, from Cranford, admitted the offence at Brentford Magistrates’ Court on June 22 and received a £500 fine. In addition, he must also pay £250 prosecution costs.
Magistrates heard Kajla, of Firs Drive, failed to apply for a licence for a house in multiple occupation (HMO) in Berkeley Avenue, despite efforts by Hounslow Council to notify him of his responsibilities.
Magistrates heard that Gillian Sharp, housing officer from Hounslow’s Private Sector Housing Unit, visited the property last November after receiving a complaint of overcrowding.
The three-storey property has 13 habitable rooms, one kitchen with two sets of cooking facilities, three bathrooms, and an additional toilet.
An application form was sent to Kajla to make him aware he needed to license the property however he failed to return it until he had received a court summons.
Cr Mark Bowen, deputy leader of Hounslow Council and lead for strategic housing, said: “Mandatory licensing of houses in multiple occupation was introduced to protect tenants. For tenants, living in a licensed property it means their landlord has to ensure there are adequate facilities and fire detection systems in place.
