A landlord has lost control over the management and letting of his private rental properties due to previous convictions for planning and housing breaches.
Despite applying for some licenses, William Lao, a commercial landlord from Waltham Forest, will not be allowed direct control over his properties’ affairs under licensing regulations due to previous convictions.
He will instead have to nominate an approved individual to manage and let his 16 properties.
Lao was ordered to pay court fines and costs of over £300,000 after making extensions and alterations to several of his properties without having planning permission.
All the work that had been carried out had to be demolished and the properties returned to their original condition.
Most recently, he was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay £2,000 in costs for failure to license two HMOs.
