Hackney (Parliament Politics Magazine) – A Hackney landlord has failed to overturn a court order requiring him to repay thousands in rent for operating an unlicensed house in multiple occupations.
Four private tenants who had occupied an ex-council apartment on George Downing Estate in Hackney filed a lawsuit against their landlord in 2024 after it was discovered that he had failed to get an HMO permit throughout their tenancy from 2020 to 2022.
The apartment owner was forced to reimburse them £14,000 after the court ruled in their favor. However, by September of this year, landlord John Campbell was given the opportunity to appeal the ruling and returned before a tribunal to contend that the group’s allegations were “aggressive and opportunistic” because he had maintained the property in good shape.
A boiler, furnace, and mattresses that were” breaking down constantly” were among the numerous problems the tenants said were in their house. Giuseppina Cammarano, who had lived there for less than a time, reported that in December 2020, she and her roommates had gone without hot water and heating for about a week.
She also mentioned that their landlord had formerly transferred a YouTube videotape explaining how to fix the boiler to his renters. Maria Caballero, her former roommate, said that the landlord needed four months to restore a damaged blind.
Mr. Campbell refuted the allegations of deterioration and claimed he was unaware of any requirement to get an HMO license. However, the group’s attorney claimed that this was not feasible.
Nevertheless, he acknowledged during cross-examination that he owned a house valued at about £1.4 million, of which he had about £800,000 in equity. The panel further stated that his tax computations were “not conclusive evidence” of his income and recommended that if he was unable to obtain the funds to pay his former renters, he might still sell the rental property.
Since there was no indication that Mr. Campbell had filed for an HMO license before 2022, the court likewise dismissed the idea that the IT hack had any bearing on the case. The council’s property licensing portal was still operational in the wake of the cyberattack, according to records, therefore the tribunal concluded it would have made no impact.
However, after considering the fact that the house was rented at a “decent standard” despite being unregistered, the tribunal did lower the amount he owed his renters to about £11k. Additionally, they determined that the boiler had been fixed “promptly” and that one renter had provided “misleading evidence” regarding the landlord’s failure to safeguard his rental deposit.
How does Hackney Council enforce HMO licensing and inspections?
Landlords must apply for an HMO license if the property is enthralled by five or further tenants from two or further homes participating amenities. The council assesses operations grounded on safety, operation norms, and property conditions.
The council conducts regular examinations of HMOs, both routine and complaint- driven, to check for compliance with fire safety norms, acceptable amenities, overcrowding, and proper operation. For unlicensed HMOs or those failing safety norms, Hackney Council can put fiscal penalties of over to£ 30,000 per offence. They may issue enhancement notices, prohibition orders, or take legal proceedings against landlords.
Hackney works with fire services, health departments, and other bodies to apply comprehensive safety and housing quality norms.