• Newham Council win’s appeal case against rogue landlord convicted of seven housing offences in Newham;
• National banning order upheld by court marks a major milestone in the Council’s campaign against rogue landlords;
• Council accelerates work to protect Newham residents living in private rented sector.
Newham Council wins’ landmark case against convicted rogue landlord as court dismisses his appeal against a Banning Order following breaches of the Council’s landlord licensing scheme by renting an unlicensed property in Newham. The ban means that he is banned from renting any properties in Newham and the rest of England for three-years.
Convicted of seven offences under the Housing Act 2004, private landlord Mr Jahangir Hussain had originally failed to licence his property in Forest Gate in October 2021, which he used as a house in multiple occupancy (HMO). As well as breaching six other HMO Management Regulations, he received a fine of £10,000 plus the Council legal costs.
In February 2023, the Council successfully applied for a Banning Order against the landlord. Despite an appeal by the landlord, the Council won the case on 6 December 2023 and the Banning Order preventing Mr Hussain from renting any properties in England will now be in place for three years starting from 16 August 2023.
Councillor Shaban Mohammed, Cabinet Member for Housing Services said: “This Banning Order is a first for Newham and a landmark case in our campaign against rogue landlord and to protect the rights of Newham residents living in the private rented sector. We mean what we say, when tackling the scourge of rouge landlords who think they are above the law.
They aren’t and we’ll track down any landlord who tries to circumvent the rules that are there to protect our residents and their housing rights. We have very clear guidelines, information and support available for private landlords in Newham so that they can operate their businesses while also supporting the welfare of their tenants.
Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz OBE said, “Mr Hussain has shown flagrant disregard of both housing and planning legislation, to the detriment of both his tenants and residents of the borough. Combined actions from across our Council shows that we are will do whatever it takes to protect the interests of our residents. This major milestone sends a message loud and clear that rogue landlords have no place in Newham. It’s all part of our campaign to protect renters rights, including calling for an end to no-fault evictions and introducing rent caps.”
Following the Banning Order, Mr Hussain who rents out several properties in Newham, Tower Hamlets and Haringey will be unable to do so for three years.
The Banning Order also prevents Mr Hussain from:
- Letting housing in England;
- Engaging in English letting agency work;
- Engaging in English property management work; or
- Doing two or more of those things
- Being involved in any way in any corporate body that carries out any of the above activities.
As well as obtaining the Banning Order, Newham’s Planning Enforcement Team secured two convictions in the Magistrates Court against Mr Hussain for breaching planning enforcement notices at both his properties within Newham. The notices related to the construction of extensions at those properties without the required planning permission. The cases have now been committed to the Crown Court under section 70 of the Proceeds of Crime Act, for consideration of confiscation and appropriate sentencing for the offences.
For more information on our Private Rented Property Licensing Scheme, visit the Newham website.
