HMO license expired

[1717h]

My son is helping his GF clean and move out of uni accommodation. He’s just found a carbon monoxide detector which expired in 2024. I said I think that might be the landlords responsibility. I asked to see the HOM license certificate that should be on display, that expired in Feb 2024! I’ve looked on the council website for that address and it says it expires Feb 2024.

She moves out tomorrow, there have been 5 people living at that address. I will be contacting the council tomorrow. The landlord has been letting himself in and staying to ‘chat’ and the most alarming thing to happen there which might or might not be related to the landlord is that my sons GF found a camera attached to a power bank hidden in her room. She reported it to the police who took weeks to come and collect it and she’s heard nothing since. I’m horrified by the whole situation. I’m after advice really. What to do?

Report all of it to the local authority

Is the camera that worries me the most

Yes that was quite a shock and the lack of police response just as shocking.

If you tell the local authority then at least he can’t rent it out again without getting all the relevant safety checks! I don’t know about the camera but hopefully if you notify the local authority, he won’t try that again!

I would check on the council website if the hmo is registered. Get in touch with the hmo team there. And then there is a good FB group tenants voice uk I think its called, ask for advice there. She may win a small claim but theres an upfront cost and risk given they will likely have solicitors she can't afford.
The camera is criminal and needs reporting to the council as well.

Ignore me. Got confused!

I think given that it’s not your child, I’d report to the council and leave it up to gf or gf’s parents to follow up or do anything else. I wouldn’t be joining fb groups or similar when you’re not directly affected.

At the very least, I believe all the tenants are entitled to a good chunk of their rent back, and up to 100%, when an HMO certificate is not valid. Even if for one day..

It's draconian, but it's designed to stop landlords acting as if they were your actual lord and master.

Check out Shelter for more info.

The exact amount is negotiable - obviously the more breeches, the more one can ask for. Most people will settle out of court as soon as they get legal advice. Then it's up to you what to ask for.

For example, him letting himself in. A contract doesn't need to say that they are entitled to quiet enjoyment - the law of the land demands they are not interrupted unreasonably.

It's a bit of a palaver around the paperwork, but having once had a rogue landlord, being paid more than what I paid them made it worth the stress in the end.