Landlord of unlicensed HMO ordered to repay £30,000 rent

A landlord who illegally rented out rooms in an unlicensed HMO has been ordered to repay more than £30,000 in housing benefit that he received for the flats.

Landlord Mehmet Parlak was prosecuted by Haringey Council because he should have licensed the two properties, and had ignored warnings to do so.

The Residential Property Tribunal has now awarded the council a repayment of £32,278 in housing benefit payments for the properties.

It is the first time the council has won rent repayments following a landlord’s failure to license a mandatory HMO.

Cllr Nilgun Canver, cabinet member for the environment, said: “This is good news. I hope all landlords who do not license their HMOs and therefore avoid the maintenance and safety inspections necessary to ensure their tenants are safe and suitably housed, will take heed.”

Parlak has been told he can pay back the amounts owed in instalments, with the tribunal suggesting that he agree a timescale with the council.