The Wembley 'house of horrors': A chilling reminder of the need for rigorous property inspections to protect tenants

House Of Horrors 1

A rogue landlord in Wembley was recently fined nearly £50,000 for renting an overcrowded property with eight tenants living in unsafe conditions, highlighting the urgent need for property inspections under licensing schemes. Dubbed a 'house of horrors,' the property posed severe health and safety risks.

Following a tenant report of a rat infestation, a leak, and a broken toilet, officers discovered eight people, including two children under 13, cramped into a house with facilities suitable for only five. This alarming case reinforces the need for proactive inspections and strict enforcement of housing standards by local authorities to protect vulnerable tenants from rogue landlords.

When left unaddressed, properties like this “house of horrors” not only endanger tenant safety but also undermine the integrity of the housing sector in local communities, creating a nightmare on more than just Elm Street. Troublingly, this case is far from isolated as numerous properties fall below minimum standards, with some landlords neglecting basic responsibilities and leaving tenants living in dangerous conditions.

Home Safe’s experience of carrying out property inspections confirms the scale of this issue. In a partnership with a local authority, Home Safe inspected over 1,500 rental properties under a selective licensing scheme, revealing that more than 73% of them had at least one high-priority hazard. Common issues included extensive damp and mould, missing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and deteriorating windows—all significant risks to tenants. Through partnerships like this, Home Safe enables local authorities to take a proactive stance, identifying and addressing such hazards before they escalate.

By working with Home Safe, councils benefit from a dedicated team of inspectors trained in the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), capable of carrying out multiple inspections under licensing schemes. This partnership frees up council resources, allowing them to focus on enforcing standards in the highest-risk cases. By building a safer private rental sector, councils working with Home Safe can help prevent future cases like the Wembley “house of horrors” and ensure tenants have access to safer housing.

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