In a landmark move, Merton Council has taken action against a rogue landlord by seizing 18 private rented flats at locations around the south London borough, after months of tenant complaints were ignored.
This move marks what is believed to be the first such use of landlord licensing powers in the country.
Labour-controlled Merton’s action occurred in the same week that, across the capital, the former leader of another London borough was being exposed as a rogue landlord himself.
Jas Athwal, who owns 15 properties in Ilford within the borough of Redbridge, was exposed for charging rents from tenants forced to live in homes infested with ants and with black mould on the walls. Athwal had been elected as MP for Ilford South in July.
It was found that 13 of Athwal’s properties had failed to be registered under Redbridge Council’s licensing scheme, which had been introduced when he was council leader.
Rogue landlord: Jas Athwal MP
Croydon had introduced its own landlord licensing scheme in 2015, but after raking in millions in fees from landlords, the then Labour-run council sat back and did next to nothing to protect tenants living in private rented accommodation. It was as if Croydon’s private landlords are all paragons of virtue…
Inside Croydon broke the news in 2021 of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s decision to end Croydon’s controversial licensing scheme, a pet project of Alison Butler when she was the council’s cabinet member for housing. Brick by Brick and Regina Road also both occurred on Butler’s watch.
Among the reasons given by the MHCLG for rejecting Croydon’s renewal application was that the council had failed to include anything resembling a coherent housing strategy with its proposition. When last heard of, Alison Butler had a job at Lewisham Council… in their housing department.
The properties that were seized in Merton are in Graveney ward, south of Tooting.
Although the news of the seizures came soon after housing association Clarion had been hit with a “severe maladministration” ruling from the Housing Ombudsman for its mishandling of a case on the Eastfield Estate in Mitcham, a Merton source confirmed that the properties seized by the council were not Clarion’s.
Unlicensed: Alison Butler
The seized homes were found to be in a state of disrepair, with tenants reporting numerous issues that had gone unaddressed for more than a year.
“Council officers inspected the homes following a complaint from the people who live there. Officers issued several notices to the homeowner, who ignored the orders for months,” Merton Council said in a statement.
“Because there was no reasonable prospect of the private tenancies being licensed soon, the council was able to make an ‘Interim Management Order’ to take control of the properties.”
Introduced last year, Merton’s licensing scheme requires all privately rented properties in Figges Marsh, Graveney, Longthornton and Pollards Hill wards to be licensed.
Councillor Andrew Judge, Merton’s cabinet member for housing, said, “Everyone deserves to live in a safe and decent home, and the council is committed to improving housing conditions in the private rented sector. 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.”
The council will now direct the tenants’ rents into a repairs fund, ensuring the management of the property is to the expected standard and all maintenance tasks are carried out. The owner remains responsible for paying the mortgages.
The council’s actions have been widely praised by tenants groups.
Read more: Council’s landlord licensing scheme can’t cope with workload
Read more: Investigation into housing scandal finds systemic failure and incompetence
Read more: Only 10% of council housing repair jobs ever get checked
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ROTTEN BOROUGH AWARDS: In January 2024, Croydon was named among the country’s rottenest boroughs for a SEVENTH successive year in the annual round-up of civic cock-ups in Private Eye magazine
