A rogue landlord who squeezed six people into one room of his HMO has been told to pay £37,000 in fines and costs.

Barnet Council were tipped off about the property in Fairmead Crescent, Edgware (main image) - originally built as a three-bedroom terraced house – which had been converted into eight bedsits and was being operated without a licence.

Following complaints from neighbours about noise, antisocial behaviour and overcrowding, council inspectors used a warrant to enter the property where they found 18 tenants including children and infants. One room was shared by six people including infants and another 7.8 sq metre room was occupied by two tenants.

As well as being overcrowded, the building did not meet safety standards, had an inadequate fire alarm system, and no safe means of escape in case of fire. Officers found the rear garden was filled with building waste, mattresses and other debris, along with a kitchen in a separate structure in the garden, and disrepair throughout.

Nine offences

Landlord Charles Egbiremolen was found guilty at Willesden Magistrates Court in November of nine offences including failing to licence the property, management and safety offences and failure to supply statutory information to the council.

Summing up, the district judge commented that Egbiremolen was “not a person who responds positively to laws and regulations”. In sentencing, the judge described him as a “classic rogue landlord”.

A council spokesman says: “The safety of our residents is paramount, and we will not tolerate landlords who flout the rules in Barnet. It is the responsibility of every landlord to make sure that their properties comply with the law and their tenants are safe.”