‘Rogue landlord’ let tenants live in flat covered in mould and bed bugs
A landlord has been ordered to pay more than £14,000 to his Dagenham tenants after they were found to be living in 'hazardous' conditions. Kehinde Wilson Gbadegesin was instructed to pay £14,400 to Matthew Neujekwu and Ngozi Neujkwu, who were tenants at his Dagenham flat.[1]
The decision was announced on August 4 after the occupants filed a Rent Repayment Order for £14,400 between the period of February 2022 to January 2023. Gbadesgesin, from Greenwich, was also ordered to pay an additional £300 to the tenants for their application and hearing fee.
According to the judgment report, Gbadesgesin refused to participate in the proceedings. Matthew and Ngozi are currently privately renting a two-bedroom flat at Butteridges Close and paid £1,200 per month for rent.
The court was told the rent was originally paid to the Phil Davies Estate Agents, who let the premises on Gbadesgesin's behalf, before the landlord took back management.
It was revealed to the court he failed to abide by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham selective licensing scheme as he did not have a license for the two-bedroom flat he privately rented to the occupants. Under the selective scheme, all privately rented homes must have a license.
Gbadesgesin was also convicted of offences relating to not complying with the improvement notice served on him on August 16. The court heard there were a number of problems with the flat and the local authority applied for an injunction for Gbadesgesin to carry out essential works at the premise.
These hazards include no proper heating supply, damp, mould, and bed bugs. The landlord reportedly ignored the Improvement Notice to execute the essential works.
Gbadesgin was previously convicted for offences relating to the same premises back in February. He was found guilty and ordered to pay more than £22,000 for failing to license the property and leaving tenants in extremely poor living conditions.
The bathroom light was also broken (Image: Barking and Dagenham Council))
These conditions included severe infestation of bed bugs and evidence that children have been bitten, only one working heater in the flat, no smoke detection alarms, and severe damp and mould.
In the report, Judge Shepard said: "The Applicants are to all intents and purposes good tenants. The Respondent in contrast appears to fit the description “rogue landlord” perfectly.
"He has failed to comply with the Improvement notice, the premises remain in a hazardous condition and he has abjectly failed to engage either with this Tribunal or the Magistrates Court."
Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, said: “No one should be left to live in dangerous and disgusting conditions such as those faced by these tenants, so I am pleased to hear this rogue landlord will be made to pay back every penny he unscrupulously took from them.
“Our private rented property licensing scheme is there to improve standards for all, and I hope this sends a strong message that we will continue to take action against the small minority who think they can flout the rules and do as they please.”
References
- ^ his Dagenham flat. (www.essexlive.news)
- ^ The Rainham estate that's 'unimaginable' without a car as promised train station still not built (www.essexlive.news)