Councillor boasts of Camden topping rankings for rogue landlord prosecutions

Camden is the highest-ranked London borough for prosecutions of rogue landlords, according to figures from the London City Hall rogue landlord and agent checker.

The checker was launched in December 2017 as a source of information to the public about landlords who have been prosecuted or fined.

Camden have 58 prosecutions listed on the checker, with 34 ‘rogue landlords/agencies’ from the borough also listed.

Speaking at the 11 September meeting of the Kentish Town District Management Committee, Cllr Meric Apak (Lab, Kentish Town), Camden’s cabinet member for better homes, said: “We are leading on this because we want to support private renters just as much as council tenants.”

Camden’s housing chief presented figures to residents and representatives of tenants’ and residents association present at the meeting showing that in the last year, the council secured fines and costs from the managers of an unlicensed house in multiple occupation (HMO) of £42,000.

Tenants had complained of a rat infestation, rotting windows and the need to use saucepans to catch water dripping through the bathroom floor.

Another landlord was censured for illegally sub-dividing rooms in the listed building, which was the birthplace of Benjamin Disraeli.

The news was presented to residents after the council’s announcement on 10 September that a rogue agent and two lettings companies had been fined £60,000 for operating an unlicensed HMO on Brassey Road, after a raid uncovered eight people living in dangerous and overcrowded conditions with electrical and fire safety issues.

In a statement released by the council on the case, Cllr Apak said: “A large proportion of Camden’s residents rent privately and pay through the nose to do so.

“The very least they can expect in return is to live in a safe, accessible home with decent living space.

“We will always assist landlords that seek our advice but Camden Council’s commitment to residents is that we will take the strongest possible action against landlords and lettings agents not meeting standards and disregarding tenants’ rights.”