Blackstone Properties Management Limited and its director, Mohamed Ali Rasool, have been fined a total of £480,000 plus costs at Westminster Magistrate Court on 1st November 2023 for putting their tenants at risk.
Following a complaint from a tenant back in 2020, the council begun an investigation which revealed that the landlord was unlicensed to operate the 22-bedroom HMO.
Despite repeated warnings, the landlord did not apply for a licence, and the council eventually visited with the Met Police and London Fire Brigade.
Council officers made a dawn raid at the property at 36 Hyde Park Gate in 2021, where they found multiple fire and damp risks.
Officers found defective and damaged fire doors, inadequate fire separation between bedrooms and protection in the boiler room or lobby, covered fire alarms, and burnt out and loose electrical sockets.
Tenants were cooking in their room using camping-style facilities without proper kitchen facilities.
In addition, there was rising damp and mould growth throughout the property — which even caused mushrooms to grow in upper floors — and single glazed windows with rotten frames, draughts, and broken sashes.
Cllr Cem Kemahli, lead member for planning and public realm at Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council, commented: “Let this judgement be a clear lesson to other landlords and agents — if you are offering poor quality accommodation, we will find you and we will come after you.
“Our landlord licensing schemes are seeking out the bad operators to ensure safer homes for everyone and a fairer market for good operators.
“Privately rented homes form a crucial part of our housing mix, but they must be up to scratch.
“Our teams stand by to help and assist landlords in answering concerns or offering suggestions about how to improve your properties."
