Landlords ordered to repay Housing Benefit
A father and son who, last year, admitted managing an unlicensed House of Multiple Occupation have been ordered to return more than £8,000 paid to them in Housing Benefit.
Ikram Hussain of Reginald Road. Birmingham owned the property in Manse Road, Hadley which his father Noor Ali Hussain lived in.
Last December at Telford Magistrates Court, the pair pleaded guilty to being in control of and managing the property, failing to license it, failing to ensure all means of escape from fire in the property were kept clear and in good order and failing to provide an electrical safety certificate. They were ordered by Telford Magistrates to pay a total of more than £6,500.
Following their conviction, Telford & Wrekin Council’s Environmental Health officers made a Rent Repayment Order (RRO) application to the First Tier Tribunal Property Chamber of HM Courts & Tribunal Service. It found in favour of the Council and has now ordered the two men to repay £8,059.95 in rent, given at the time in the form of Housing Benefit during the period of the offence of failing to license the property.
Cllr Richard Overton, Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Enforcement, said: “The powers relating to rent repayment orders are very useful and they can be applied in a variety of cases such as harassment or illegal eviction of tenants or failing to comply with a prohibition order or improvement notice.
“Tenants who pay the rent themselves can also apply for a rent repayment order. Tenants experiencing issues with their rented accommodation that they feel the Council can help them with can contact our Environmental Health officers.”
