A slum landlord who converted a house in Cricklewood into 10 rundown bedsits has become the first in Brent to be fined under the council’s licensing scheme.

Brent & Kilburn Times: Ground floor hallway (Pic credit: Brent Council)Ground floor hallway (Pic credit: Brent Council) (Image: Archant)

Douglas Gerard-Reynolds rented out the unlicensed House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) property in Anson Road, to tenants who complained about inadequate heating facilities and water leaks.

Willesden Magistrates’ Court heard he ignored a legal requirement to obtain a licence for the property following rules introduced by the council on January 1.

Under the new requirements all HMO properties in the borough and rental properties located in the Harlesden, Wembley Central and Willesden Green wards must be licensed.

Gerard-Reynolds was convicted renting out a HMO without the required licence and fined £1,000.

Brent & Kilburn Times: Household waste behind the bins (Pic credit: Brent Council)Household waste behind the bins (Pic credit: Brent Council) (Image: Archant)

He must also pay costs of £1,457 and victim surcharge of £100.

Spencer Randolph, head of private housing services at Brent Council said: “Landlords in Brent need to be aware of the consequences if they fail to apply for a licence.

“Landlord licensing will drive up the quality of thousands of privately rented properties in Brent and help us to protect the minority of tenants plagued by rogue landlords.”

If you are a landlord with a property in Brent that should be licensed visit www.brent.gov.uk/prslicensing