A rogue landlord who persistently failed to license several rented properties has had the homes seized by Merton Council.
The properties were previously inspected by council officers following a complaint from the tenants, and the landlord received several notices to license the rental dwellings.
However, as the notices were ignored for months, the council used special powers as part of a new scheme to take temporary control of the homes and direct the tenants’ rental income into ensuring the management of the property is to the standard expected for tenants.
The owner remains responsible for paying the mortgages.
All private rented homes in Figges Marsh, Graveney, Longthornton, and Pollards Hill wards must now be licensed under the council’s selective licensing scheme, introduced by the council last year.
Councillor Andrew Judge, Merton Council’s cabinet member for housing and sustainable development, said: “Everyone deserves to live in a safe and decent home and the council is committed to improving housing conditions in the PRS.
“While many landlords operate within guidelines, there are also others who do not, often taking advantage of some of the most vulnerable members of our community — this leads to issues affecting health and safety, the wider community, as well as the environment.
“This action sends a clear message to landlords: if you do not license your property, or act in such a way that the property cannot be licensed, the council can and will use its powers to take over the running of it.”
