Brent Landlord Brothers Fined £20k for Student Overcrowding

Rogue Landlord Brothers Fined £20,000 for Cramming 15 Students into Brent House

Two brothers, identified as Vimal Kanji Bhudia and Ravi Kanji Bhudia, of apparent Indian ethnicity based on their names, have been slapped with a hefty £20,000 fine and placed on the 'rogue landlord' database after being found to have crammed 15 students into a seven-bedroom property in Ilmington Road, Kenton, Brent. The north London council condemned their actions, stating they "acted as if they were above the law" and have now paid "a heavy price for it."

Brent Council officers launched an inspection of the property in July of last year after receiving a tip-off from a concerned neighbour about the potential unlicensed House of Multiple Occupancy (HMO). What they discovered was a blatant disregard for safety regulations and severe overcrowding. The seven bedrooms were being shared by 15 young students, many of whom were forced to sleep on mattresses on the floor, with two or three individuals crammed into each room.

Further investigation revealed alarming fire safety breaches. Smoke alarms within the property had been deliberately covered with aluminium foil, rendering them useless, and fire doors, crucial for containing the spread of fire, were missing. Despite residing locally, the Bhudia brothers reportedly failed to respond to multiple notices from the council regarding the mandatory requirement for an HMO licence.

Faced with their continued inaction, Brent Council pursued enforcement action, leading to Vimal and Ravi Kanji Bhudia's appearance at Willesden Magistrates Court last week. The court heard that the brothers had been given "a significant amount of time and opportunities" to comply with housing regulations. Ultimately, both pleaded guilty to charges of breaching housing regulations and failing to obtain the necessary HMO licence. As a result, they were issued the substantial £20,000 fine.

Cabinet Member for Housing and Residents Services at Brent Council, Cllr Fleur Donnelly-Jackson, expressed her strong disapproval of the landlords' behaviour. "Every landlord in Brent is legally required to have a licence. The law exists to protect tenants from rogue landlords who overcrowd their homes and ignore fire safety regulations while pocketing their tenants' money. Every Brent resident has the right to live in a safe and secure home."

Borough-wide licensing for most rental properties in Brent (excluding Wembley Park) became law in April 2024, building on a previous five-year HMO licensing programme that licensed 2,500 properties before concluding in January. The council is currently consulting on extending the borough-wide scheme, which, if approved, will come into force in the autumn.

The local authority believes that licensing is crucial for improving standards within the private rental sector, which is increasingly relied upon to address the shortfall in social housing. They argue that stricter rules will "drive up standards" and ensure safer living conditions for tenants. The council also suggests that licensing benefits responsible landlords by ensuring a level playing field and potentially leading to longer, more stable tenancies through improved communication and clearer tenant rights and obligations. The proposed licence fee is £1,040 for up to five habitable rooms, with an additional £25 per extra room, and a potential discount for accredited landlords.