A landlord caught out for having an unlicensed property has managed to get her fine slashed after a First Tier Property Tribunal heard that the tenants owed more than £17,000 in rent.
Tenants Anita and Yazmin Summan had claimed £16,850 but were only awarded £5,055 by the judge who said it could not be justified that the pair were living at the house in Sturge Avenue, Walthamstow (pictured), rent free.
The tenants argued that landlord Gloria Nolte had failed to license the property which suffered from various problems including mice infestation, a noisy boiler and an electricity supply that could be accessed by the neighbour.
They also accused Nolte of shutting off the power, verbally abusing them over unpaid rent and illegally evicting them in April 2024 when the locks were changed while they were out.
Anita Summan said she had been the target of “horrible verbal abuse” from a neighbour, whom she suspected was acting under directives from her landlord. After this, she admitted withholding rent so she could afford housing elsewhere.
The judge said while there was evidence of poor conduct by the landlord, the premises were in disrepair and there probably was an unlawful eviction, the substantial arrears incurred by the tenants demonstrated “very poor conduct on their part”.
He added: “If the respondent did change the locks before the bailiffs were involved, this was probably borne out of desperation. A tenancy is a contract that both sides are expected to comply with. Neither side behaved properly in this case.”
The tenants’ solicitor had tried to describe Nolte as being well off, but the judge acknowledged that most of her capital was in heavily mortgaged property while her bank statements only showed a modest income.
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