11th February 2026

Landlord Fined For Multiple Fire Safety Breaches

What’s Happened?

Camden Council has recently prosecuted the landlord of a property in Kilburn for letting an unlicensed House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) and failing to meet fire safety and maintenance standards.

Inspection

During an inspection of the property in Kilburn last year, Camden Council enforcement officers found five unrelated tenants living in the property, which required a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO).

An HMO licence is mandatory if you rent to 5+ people from 2+ households sharing amenities, and it generally lasts for up to 5 years. Key requirements include meeting strict fire safety, electrical, and gas safety standards and maintaining minimum bedroom sizes.

During the inspection, the Officers also identified multiple fire safety issues, including:

• No Fire Risk Assessment in place
• No carbon monoxide alarms installed
• Blocked fire escape routes
• Insufficient fire doors to flat entrances, kitchens and bedrooms

The landlord was found guilty on 8th January 2026 of five offences committed under the Housing Act 2004 for letting an unlicensed HMO and failing to comply with multiple regulations under Section 234 of the Housing Act 2004.

As a result, the landlord was ordered to pay a total of £15,872 (i.e. £2,500 for each of the five offences, a surcharge of £2,000 and prosecution costs of £1,372).

After the verdict, a representative of Camden Council noted: “This landlord profited from residents living in dangerous conditions and failed to comply with clear legislation. I’m pleased that he has been handed this fine thanks to the robust work of our enforcement officers.”

If you have any questions regarding HMOs or other fire safety-related matters, then call our health and safety advice line on 0300 303 5228 or email us at info@lighthouseriskservices.co.uk.