A landlord in Diss has been fined £30,000 by South Norfolk Council after breaching multiple housing regulations.

Jubayer Rimon and his company Ambreen Properties were both found guilty of Failing to licence an HMO (House in Multiple Occupation) and Breaches of management regulations in respect of HMOs.

Council officers proved Rimon was operating as a HMO without the required licence, with up to 17 people residing in the 4 bedroom terraced property in Mere Street, Diss, putting the occupants’ health, safety and wellbeing at risk.

South Norfolk cabinet member for Supporting People, Cllr Graham Minshull, said: “This is a fantastic result. The Council will not tolerate sub-standard accommodation which puts the lives of residents at risk. HMOs when run responsibly offer much needed low-cost and safe accommodation for residents. However, this property was not built for multiple occupation and there were clear safety issues including overcrowding, fire risks and use of limited facilities. The safety of our residents is paramount, and we will not hesitate to take enforcement action when required.”

The Council was first alerted about the case in July 2022, and over the next four months, undertook an in-depth investigation involving the Norfolk Police, Housing Department and other government agencies.

Several visits to the property were made and the landlord’s company was interviewed under caution. However, despite legal notices and other interventions, the problem continued, with spot checks revealing overcrowding.

In December, the Council and Norfolk Police visited unannounced and discovered 17 people were staying at the property. Some were sleeping on mattresses on the floor. Two of the occupiers requested to be removed due to the fear of being exploited and were taken into the care of Norfolk Police.

Cllr Minshull added: “Tenants in illegal HMOs can be vulnerable and open to exploitation by rogue landlords, so it’s crucial we clamp down on any illegal activity. We have a dedicated and pro-active team investigating illegal HMOs and if we discover someone breaking the rules, we will not hesitate to act.”

In January 2023, 4 Civil penalties were served upon both the company and the company owner. However, the civil penalty notices were subsequently challenged and a lengthy legal process was then undertaken resulting in all 4 offences being secured in the Council’s favour and a total fine of £30k.

Rogue HMOs are often linked with organised crime, people trafficking, and modern slavery. If you have suspicions that a property in either South Norfolk or Broadland is operating as an illegal HMO, or you have safety concerns concerning the condition of the property, please contact the Councils’ Housing Standards Team.