Landlord duo ordered to pay £90k+ after renting out two-bed flat to up to 23 people

Tower Hamlets Council has successfully prosecuted two private landlords who rented out their two-bedroom flat to as many as 23 people, when the property was only licensed for three people from two households.

Sofina Begum, 52, and Aminur Rahman, 55, owned the fourth-floor flat in Maddocks House.

The defendants were sentenced last month at Snaresbrook Crown Court following their convictions in November 2023 before Thames Magistrates’ Court.

Begum was ordered to pay a fine of £10,000 and £2,000 in prosecution costs as well as the victim surcharge of £2,000. She was also told to pay a confiscation order of £78,049.

Rahman was ordered to pay a fine of £2,000 and the victim surcharge of £800 as well as a confiscation order of £1.01p.

The defendants had previously pleaded guilty to a total of nine charges brought under the Housing Act 2004.

Tower Hamlets said this included allowing the premises to become overcrowded, failing to comply with licensing conditions, not conducting required inspections, lacking a valid gas safety certificate, and failing to provide the council with requested documentation.

Tenant Mizanur Rahman, 41, died in a fire at the flat in Shadwell on 5 March 2023, caused by a faulty lithium-ion e-bike battery which was charging at the time. 

The Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman, said: “It is completely unacceptable that some landlords continue to exploit tenants by allowing overcrowding, flouting essential safety regulations, and putting people's lives at risk.

“Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family and friends of Mizanur Rahman, who tragically lost his life in the fire, caused by a faulty e-bike battery, at Maddocks House, and with all those affected by this devastating incident.

"We are clamping down on rogue landlords who operate in our borough. We pursued this prosecution and the court's decision sends a clear message: we will not tolerate criminal landlords who endanger lives for profit. We will continue to do everything we can to ensure such cases are brought to justice in order to protect our community and we urge all local authorities to do the same.”