Haringey Council has issued more than £200,000 in fines to landlords across the borough who have failed to licence their houses in multiple occupation (HMO).

To date, the local authority has given 59 warnings have been given to landlords who have rented out their unlicensed HMO property to at least three people who are not from the same household but share facilities like a bathroom and kitchen.

In total, 43 of these notices resulted in fines.

The council says the use of Civil Penalty Notices (CPN) ‘helps strengthen the private rented sector and protect residents in the borough’.

Altogether, fines amounting to £207,500 have been issued.

The council says landlords who rent their HMOs without a licence are not only at risk of receiving a CPN, but could be instructed to pay back rent to tenants.

Haringey Council’s cabinet member for housing services, private renters and planning, Sarah Williams, says: “We will do everything in our power to protect our residents in the private rented sector in Haringey.

“Our HMO licencing scheme provides us with an even better platform to do this.

“Whilst we continue this journey to improve housing standards across the borough, we will fight for renters’ rights and ensure residents across Haringey live in homes that are well managed, of good quality and most of all, safe.

“As shown with this case, landlords who fail to comply will face tough enforcement action.”

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