Brent Council in London has launched street-by-street surveys to identify landlords who are avoiding or have forgotten to buy the required licenses for privately rented properties. Since April 2024, all landlords in Brent (except those in the Wembley Park ward) must have a license, with failure to comply potentially resulting in fines or criminal convictions.

In one case, a landlord, Sanjay Patel, was fined nearly £50,000 by Willesden Magistrates Court for breaches of the Housing Act. Patel’s property in Wembley, which housed eight tenants despite only being suitable for five, was in a state of disrepair, including faulty doors, mould, and a rat infestation. The council raided the property after a tenant complaint, and this case represents the largest fine Brent has issued against an unlicensed landlord of an HMO (House in Multiple Occupation) in 2024.