Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Harringay HMOs in the local press
Okay so th Journal doesn't know the difference between Hringey and Harringay, but the issue's being covered:
Tougher action needed to stop landlord scams
Hornsey & Crouch End Journal, 09 July 2008
Residents are urging Haringey Council to appoint a new chief of housing to clamp down on dodgy landlords who put the lives of tenants and neighbours in danger.
Some landlords are risking huge fires by wiring electricity supplies directly to the mains rather than through a meter.
Others invite burglars with poor security and ignore legal requirements to apply for planning permission and comply with building regulations, it is claimed.
The concern is over houses of multiple occupation - or HMOs - where, generally, bedsits and flats share a single main entrance in a converted house.
Ian Sygrave, chairman of the Harringay Ladder Community Safety Partnership, says Haringey needs a "HMO tsar" to safeguard tenants and co-ordinate different departments.
Haringey has seen ever greater numbers of HMO conversions in recent years. But the council has no idea how many there are, as dishonest landlords can simply avoid applying for HMO licences and for planning permission for the conversion work.
Mr Sygrave says the numbers of HMOs in Haringey are subject to "wild estimates" at best.
During a police operation last month in Harringay and St Ann's wards, police and electricity teams disconnected 15 premises using illegal electricity and recovered 14 stolen electric meters. A further four premises had an illegal gas supply, and four stolen gas meters were recovered.
Haringey Council discovered 13 illegally converted HMOs in the same operation.
But Hugh Flouch, who runs the community website Harringay Online, and lives in Hewitt Road, said there seemed little co-ordination between departments, with the authority still "placing people into illegally converted HMOs".
Around 180 HMO licences have been granted in Haringey since 2006, and six refused.
Councillor John Bevan, cabinet member for housing, said: "Residents are right to say that we need a very considered and co-ordinated approach to deal with some of the problems that are arising from HMOs and changes of use, such as preserving the character or neighbourhoods, protecting tenants and tackling associated anti-social behaviour.
"We will need the continuing help of residents in identifying rogue landlords or owners who are converting properties without permission."
To report a suspected non-licensed HMO call 020 8489 5230/5240 or illegal change of use by calling 020 8489 5508.
Tougher action needed to stop landlord scams
Hornsey & Crouch End Journal, 09 July 2008
Residents are urging Haringey Council to appoint a new chief of housing to clamp down on dodgy landlords who put the lives of tenants and neighbours in danger.
Some landlords are risking huge fires by wiring electricity supplies directly to the mains rather than through a meter.
Others invite burglars with poor security and ignore legal requirements to apply for planning permission and comply with building regulations, it is claimed.
The concern is over houses of multiple occupation - or HMOs - where, generally, bedsits and flats share a single main entrance in a converted house.
Ian Sygrave, chairman of the Harringay Ladder Community Safety Partnership, says Haringey needs a "HMO tsar" to safeguard tenants and co-ordinate different departments.
Haringey has seen ever greater numbers of HMO conversions in recent years. But the council has no idea how many there are, as dishonest landlords can simply avoid applying for HMO licences and for planning permission for the conversion work.
Mr Sygrave says the numbers of HMOs in Haringey are subject to "wild estimates" at best.
During a police operation last month in Harringay and St Ann's wards, police and electricity teams disconnected 15 premises using illegal electricity and recovered 14 stolen electric meters. A further four premises had an illegal gas supply, and four stolen gas meters were recovered.
Haringey Council discovered 13 illegally converted HMOs in the same operation.
But Hugh Flouch, who runs the community website Harringay Online, and lives in Hewitt Road, said there seemed little co-ordination between departments, with the authority still "placing people into illegally converted HMOs".
Around 180 HMO licences have been granted in Haringey since 2006, and six refused.
Councillor John Bevan, cabinet member for housing, said: "Residents are right to say that we need a very considered and co-ordinated approach to deal with some of the problems that are arising from HMOs and changes of use, such as preserving the character or neighbourhoods, protecting tenants and tackling associated anti-social behaviour.
"We will need the continuing help of residents in identifying rogue landlords or owners who are converting properties without permission."
To report a suspected non-licensed HMO call 020 8489 5230/5240 or illegal change of use by calling 020 8489 5508.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Liz on
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All very well to say that they need residents help (which seems the stock response to anything be it HMOs, dog poo or damaged trees) but as we know once the conversion is under way the developers pretty much do what they please. They need some bolder and more joined up thinking, better resources for planning amd enforcement, a few high profile successes at getting an HMO converted back. Bevan's response was a standard quote which promised nothing. Very disappointing.
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Permalink Reply by Anette on
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This is all just words. Where's the person who will coordinate this? When will they appoint a "tsar" to quote Ian? They need someone to link up the various departments. And like Liz says, we need a few high profile cases to send out a strong signal to dodgy landlords, at the moment it's like the wild west here, and thanks to laws protecting the criminals there's not much we can do. "Help from the residents" my foot! I agree, very disappointing.
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