Two landlords have been ordered to pay more than £30,000 for breaching fire safety and over-occupancy licence conditions at their House of Multiple Occupation (HMO).

Council officers discovered that the Sandringham Road home in Golders Green NW11 9DP had no fire alarm or emergency lighting systems during a routine inspection. They found that six people were living at the address, which was only licenced to house five people.

Landlords Mark Goldsmith, of Golders Green Road, and lian Hatuka, of Sandringham Road, were prosecuted by the council. They were found guilty of failing without reasonable excuse to comply with their licence conditions at Willesden Magistrates Court on Thursday 14 February – despite their ‘not guilty’ plea. Goldsmith and Hatuka were ordered to pay £15,420 each, including the council’s costs.

Councillor Gabriel Rozenberg, Chairman of the Housing Committee, said: “All too often landlords think that their legal obligations are met when they submit their HMO licence application. However, all licences have conditions that landlords are legally obliged to comply with to ensure the safety of their tenants. I am delighted that the courts support our approach to driving up housing standards for tenants throughout the borough.”