A landlord in central London has been fined a total of £50,000 for operating an unlicensed House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) that had unsafe living conditions, including the growth of mushrooms due to severe damp. Kensington and Chelsea Council announced the successful prosecution of Mohammed Rasool and his company, Blackstone Properties Management Ltd, following a six-year investigation and court proceedings.
The property, a Grade II listed 22-bedroom HMO located on Hyde Park Gate, an affluent area where homes can sell for up to £20 million, was found to have multiple breaches of housing regulations. Mr. Rasool and his company were convicted on eight charges, including managing an unlicensed HMO, failing to comply with an improvement notice, and six breaches of HMO management regulations.
An investigation into the property began in 2020 after a tenant complaint. Council officers, accompanied by the Metropolitan Police and London Fire Brigade, visited the property in August 2021. They discovered significant fire safety risks, such as defective fire doors, inadequate fire separation, and damaged fire alarms. Tenants were reportedly cooking in their rooms with makeshift equipment due to a lack of proper kitchen facilities. The property also suffered from rising damp and mold, so severe that mushrooms were growing through the floorboards on upper floors.
Kensington and Chelsea Council requires HMOs with three or more tenants to have a license, which mandates compliance with additional safety regulations, fire safety measures, and minimum room sizes. The property at 36 Hyde Park Gate had reportedly been converted from four bedrooms into 22 rooms.
Councillor Johnny Thalassites, lead member for resident services, planning, and enforcement for Kensington and Chelsea Council, stated that Mr. Rasool and Blackstone Properties Management Limited were given opportunities to rectify the issues but failed to do so. He emphasized the council's commitment to taking action against landlords who do not adhere to regulations, ensuring residents have safe places to live.
At the sentencing on June 30, 2026, Blackstone Properties Management Limited was fined £30,000, with an additional £12,176.68 awarded for prosecution costs. Mohammed Rasool personally received a £20,000 fine.