Feriz Mehmood, of Elm Park, pleaded guilty to 16 separate breaches of HMO license conditions, relating to a property in Thorn Lane, Rainham.

As the licence holder, Mehmood was responsible for the property in which 10 people, including four children, were living.

Breaches included him failing to provide valid gas and electrical safety certificates, when requested by Havering Council.

There were also fire safety breaches, including failure to ensure smoke detection was kept in proper working order in the property, and the lack of provision of suitable fire doors.

The property was also found to be infested with cockroaches, which the landlord failed to treat. It also had insufficient kitchen facilities for the number of people living in the property.

At Barkingside Magistrate Court on Tuesday 3 June 2025, Mehmood pleaded guilty and was fined  £12,000 for the offences.

He also had to pay costs of £2,227.89, and a victim surcharge of £2,000; totalling £16,027.89 that has to be paid by 1 July.

Cllr Ray Morgon, leader of Havering Council, said: “All our residents deserve to live in safe accommodation.

“We will continue to crack down on irresponsible landlords taking advantage of families and individuals, by providing poorly maintained HMO properties.

“We won’t tolerate it and neither will we stand for landlords not having the correct licences.

“We are also here to support landlords and work alongside them to help them make sure tenants are living safely in private rented accommodation in Havering.

“However, landlords of HMOs that break the rules like in this case, must be aware we will use the strongest possible action against them.”