The first banning order of a rogue lettings operator has been made in London.
Cesar De Sousa Melo has been banned for four years from letting any housing in England and engaging in any English letting agency or property management work.
The ban takes effect from next March 7.
If the banning order is breached, penalties can include prison for up to 51 weeks, or a court fine or civil penalty of up to £30,000.
The banning order has been obtained by Camden Council.
It found that he was repeatedly involved in the letting of several unlicensed HMOs.
Melo had issued some tenants with tenancy agreements in which he stated that he was the landlord. He was in fact sub-letting from the real owners.
Banned from next March? Why not immediately?
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Agree with DASH94. Melo is the sort of landlord we want out of the PRS. Noteworthy points: It took 18 months to bring him to justice and he is allowed to operate for another four before the ban applies. If it takes that long to deal with a landlord who was putting people’s lives at risk, why does the Tenant Fees Act specifically task Councils with pursuing landlords for prohibited payments which in many cases are either relatively small sums or the result of miscalculating interest? Focus on this type of case rather than threatening £5000 fines for charging a checkout fee. Camden claim it was “London’s first rogue landlord banning order”. Well, what are London Councils doing about the rogues? Instead of piling on more regulations that put up costs for honest landlords, the Government should ensure Councils are properly resourced and that they concentrate on serious cases.
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