Fire Safety Breaches Charge Brought Against Illegal HMO Landlord
A recent court ruling hit a landlord in Surrey who ran an illegal House of Multiple Occupation. The case shows why fire safety rules in property care must be met. The city finds that tenants in weak homes suffer when landlords break these rules.
Details of the Case
Mona Jetwani, a 53-year-old landlord from Egham, Surrey, turned a three-bedroom bungalow into a 15-room HMO without proper license. People complained when many residents crowded the home. Runnymede Borough Council then began a close look.
Council officers came to the door. Jetwani and her brother met them with anger. A warrant soon allowed the officers to check the property. Once inside, they saw clear breaks in housing rules. The home showed poor building work and tiny rooms. Some rooms measured only 3.48 square metres, while the law asks for at least 6.51 square metres for HMO homes.
Fire Safety Violations
Investigators found many problems with fire safety. The property had too few smoke alarms and none were linked in a system. Gaps in wall partitions between rooms broke the safe fire zones. A fridge placed under the stairs blocked a key exit path. This path must stay clear to help when trouble comes.
Jetwani later said she was wrong. She admitted to ten charges from the Housing Act 2004. The charges included running an HMO without a license, not giving a gas safety report, and breaking fire safety rules. All these breaks put lives in harm’s way.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
On 27 November 2024, District Judge Cooper met Jetwani at Staines Magistrates’ Court. The judge pointed out that many tenants were low-income and did not speak English well. The judge spoke of Jetwani’s great fault when she valued profit over safe homes.
Jetwani had to pay a fine of £12,000 plus a victim fee of £2,000. The original fine was £18,000 but went down after her fast guilty plea. The local council said that living conditions at the home were very poor.
Council Statement and Future Protections
A Runnymede Borough Council representative said the law for HMOs must be met to keep tenants safe. The council asks locals to tell the authorities of any unsafe or unlicensed HMOs. The representative said, "Our environmental health staff has not seen another case where a landlord tried to earn so much. Lives were put at risk because of these housing conditions."
The council will keep a close eye on the private rental sector. It said most landlords follow the law. The council will act hard against breaks that put lives at risk.
Conclusion
Mona Jetwani’s case paints a hard picture of the duties that come with being a landlord in HMOs. Fire safety and tenant care must sit at the head of every property plan. Landlords, both new and old, must know and follow the rules. This step is key to keeping homes safe for everyone.
If you see unsafe or illegal rental homes nearby, contact local authorities. This will help keep vulnerable tenants safe and ensure property managers stick to the rules.
Sources
Investing in property, especially in HMOs, comes with both chance and duty. Follow the rules to keep your home safe and to care for those who live there.
Disclaimer: This article has been generated by AI based on the latest news from Google News sources. While we strive for accuracy, we recommend verifying key details from official reports.
