THE MAYOR of Tower Hamlets is well known for prioritising social housing – but he cares strongly about the conditions that private renters face too.

After Tower Hamlets Council prosecuted three rogue private landlords, the Mayor said, “Every resident deserves a safe, secure and well-managed home, and we will continue to take robust enforcement action against those who fail to meet their legal responsibilities.”

The story began when the Council found a flat in Kemps Drive, Poplar, E14, which was being rented out as a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO) without the required license. The Council found that what had originally been a two-bedroomed flat had been converted into a five-bedroomed flat – housing up to six tenants at a time.

The property was overcrowded and living conditions were below standard. The property was infested by mice, cockroaches and bed bugs. Not only did these cause problems for the tenants, but they also put their neighbours in danger, as all three of these pests can travel from one property to another.

The electrics were faulty and not properly maintained and basic fire safety measures, such as fire doors and fire extinguishers, were missing. The tenants deposits were not being handled correctly and there were no written tenancy agreements. One tenant complained about conditions – and the private landlords responded by putting their rent up.

The rogue landlords were named as Rafael Mendes Torres and Evandro dos Santos Gomes, and they let out properties using a property management company named Agent Ltd. The offences at Kemps Drive occurred during 2022 – but this was not the first time these landlords had been picked up. Their company had previously been convicted of similar offences at another property.

Tower Hamlets Council took the rogue landlords to a Tribunal, which noted their repeat offending and banned them from renting out properties for three years.

Mayor Lutfur Rahman added, “This outcome sends a clear message that we will not tolerate rogue landlords in Tower Hamlets, who put tenants at risk.” He urged residents living in privately rented property in Tower Hamlets to report any concerns to the Council by emailing:
housing.advice@towerhamlets.gov.uk

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