Green House Estate Agents, based in Edmonton in North London, was found to have failed to obtain licences for three residential properties. All three were required to be licensed under Enfield Council’s selective licensing scheme, which applies to many privately rented residential properties in the borough.
When the properties were investigated by the council, they were found to be in a state of disrepair, with issues including fire safety deficiencies, damp and a general lack of management.
The estate agent was convicted for managing and having control of properties without a licence, and fined £35,000 and ordered to pay costs, which totalled £2,348. However, the business did not attend the sentencing hearing.
Councillor Susan Erbil, cabinet member for licensing, planning and regulatory services at Enfield Council, said that the council wanted to help the “many law-abiding landlords” in the borough meet the required standards and secure the proper legally required paperwork.
She added: “Unfortunately, there are also landlords who break the law by not obtaining the legally required licence to let their properties. The Council’s successful prosecution of Green House Estates should be a wake up call to all unscrupulous landlords who do not comply with the law.”
