Haringey landlord fined over £23,000 for breaching HMO regulations

A London landlord  has been fined for breaching fire safety regulations at a property in Haringey.

Mehmet Parlak, who owns Watchacre Properties Limited was fined at Highgate Magistrates Court last month.

The property on Markfield Road has not been licensed as a house of multiple occupation ( HMO) despite having multiple tenants.

An inspection at the property was carried out in August this year by an environmental health officer from the local authority. The investigator identified around 78 safety issues.

Cllr Nilgun Canver, Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: “Haringey Council is determined to clamp down on landlords who put profit above their tenants’ safety. Mr Parlak is associated with many properties which are used as HMOs and has been involved with this business for many years. There was no excuse for not licensing or for allowing properties to degenerate into such squalid conditions. The regulations exist to make sure that tenants who are not in a position to pick and choose where they live are protected from rogue landlords like this. A small fire in a property managed like this could lead to the utmost tragedy. I applaud the courts for taking this matter so seriously.”

Mr Parlak pleaded guilty to the charges against him and was fined £23,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,890.