I (24M) live in a shared house in London. I rent just one room and there’s another 5 people living here, four are family members (about 20-40 years old) and another is their friend. I have found out recently that my landlord has been renting without a HMO license. In the UK, you need a HMO license to legally rent if there is more than one household (family) living in a place. He has registered the flat as being occupied by only one family, when in reality two extra people live here. When i confronted him about this, he said that if anyone asks, to just say i’m a cousin. I’m moving out soon because my contract is finally up and i need somewhere legal to apply for a visa for my husband to live with me.
If I report him to the local council, I’m pretty sure I would win the case. He’s admitted over text that he doesn’t have the license and that he’s lying to them. If i do this I will get all the rent I’ve ever paid him back, and he will likely get a hefty fine. However, it could mean that my flatmates have to move out as he may not be allowed to rent again. While they aren’t nice people, I would feel guilty about this. The fine could go up to £30k, which is sort of life ruining. I’m also scared that he will then come after me, he seems like a dangerous man.
But I also know he plans on renting this room out again, which means somebody else will be dealing with the same thing.
Ive lived here about 6 months and to be honest, it’s awful. Here’s how:
1. My bills are meant to be included in my rent, but the landlord has refused to pay them. This means i will regularly have no heating, hot water or electricity. In the middle of winter. Most of the time, my room is so cold I can see my breath.
2. The whole flat is covered in mould.
3. When repairs or improvements do take place, I am given no warning. I will just come home one day and the whole bathroom or kitchen will be taken out for a week. This is despite me repeatedly asking for warning.
4. My things get stolen all the time. The landlord threw away half my kitchen stuff (air fryer, bowls, glasses) and when I asked he just said “oh i thought that was mine”
5. My mail is opened without asking
6. Somebody put hair removal cream in my soap last month. When i complained the response was “we shouldn’t be keeping things outside our rooms anyways”
7. The flat in general is just unsuitable for the number of people here. There aren’t any smoke detectors or fire alarms.
8. There are bugs and slugs everywhere.
There’s a lot more to be honest, but mainly the landlord is an AH. He speaks to me in such a berating way and just isnt a good man.
Should I report him?
Reading this, I can’t imagine living in those conditions it sounds unsafe and borderline criminal. From my perspective, reporting him isn’t just about getting back rent or fines; it’s about preventing someone else from ending up in the same nightmare. I’d be worried about guilt too, but honestly, letting this slide feels like letting him keep hurting people.
NTA – I say report him and get your money back. Slum lords deserve any fines or repercussions they get.
NTA, at first I was going Y T A because it sounded like all you cared about was getting money back. But considering all the problems that are happening, I would report. Legalities aside, those living conditions are absolutely horrible.
NTA – absolutely report him, he’s a slum lord and deserves to be treated as such.
“Somebody put hair removal cream in my soap last month. When i complained the response was “we shouldn’t be keeping things outside our rooms anyways””
I don’t think you need to feel bad about it
NTA
NTA. And yes you should report him. And not feel a tiny bit sad for it.
Your things are being stolen. Your mail is being opened. You were technically poisoned, if hair remover was placed in your soap.
All of those things are crimes, done by not just your landlord but your fellow “tenants.” You have plenty of justification for not being remorseful over reporting him.
NTA. He’s putting you and the others at risk for doing this. Report him immediately, document what’s been going on (such as the mold, slugs, and bugs), and save conversations you’ve had with this person.
Yes, report him.
Now, if you’ve got a cheap apartment and everything was sort of OK, then I would say no be quiet
But he’s not giving you the things that landlord should such as heat and water and he was stealing things
NTA. And I say that as a landlord.
NTA – people like him need to be held to account. Just make sure he has no idea where you’re going.
NTA. Do it for the common good
NTA.
As a former London landlord, these rules are in place to protect people. They’re not an inconvenience to be brushed away – if you can’t meet them, don’t rent out.
I wonder as well; is your deposit registered with an official scheme? Do you have an EPC, gas and electricity certificates from him too? If not, these are all part of your legal rights too and could add a lot to any case you bring against him.
NTA. Landlord needs to learn a few things about real life