A landlord and his wife are to pay a total of some £141,000 in fines and costs after failings at their HMO in West Kensington, London.

Italian recruitment executive Francesco Grasso and a property management company linked to him are to pay the lion's share of the money. Grasso was fined £35,000 and £25,000 in costs. Top Holdings Ltd, of which he was the director, was also fined £35,000 and £25,000 in costs.

His wife, who was not in charge of running the HMO on a day-to-day basis, has been fined £7,000 and £14,500 in costs.

The prosecution was initiated by the Private Sector Housing Team at Hammersmith & Fulham council’s after one of the six tenants at the property reported the landlords after it became clear it was an illegal HMO.

Safety

As well as not having a licence, Grasso and his former firm were prosecuted for not having the required notices within the property giving contact details for the property’s manager while the HMO also featured poor levels of safety.

The case began in 2019 when the council investigation began but Covid and other delays meant the court case took three years to happen and another two for the fines to go public.

“Resident safety is our top priority. We are unwavering in our commitment to protect residents renting a home in H&F in the private sector,” says Cllr Frances Umeh (pictured), H&F Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness.

“We believe that everyone deserves a secure and comfortable place to call home. Despite the lengthy court proceedings, justice was eventually served on the rogue landlords.”

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