Landlord Convicted Of Close To 200 Offences

18 January 2006

Camden Council yesterday (17 January 2006) ended 20 years of hell for private tenants in Inglewood Mansions, West Hampstead, when landlords Arond Finance Limited were found guilty of close to 200 offences for gross negligence.

Arond Finance Limited, leaseholders and managers of Inglewood Mansions were brought to justice in Highbury Court Magistrates yesterday for letting a cockroach-infested and damp property containing 60 housing units for years. An inspection in February 2005 provided Camden Council with the final evidence against Arond Finance Limited which was presented in court yesterday and for which the company was convicted of 35 offences. The offences relate to defective fire alarms, fire doors propped open, fire extinguishers not serviced since 1996, defective lighting to escape routes, and dampness and disrepair.

Arond Finance Limited, which held a 20 year lease, repeatedly failed to respond to Camden Council’s notices to repair drains, deal with pest infestations, renew and improve fire precautions and amenities and to control overcrowding. Many of the residents lived in cold, dark small rooms and did not have satisfactory facilities to prepare and cook food. While only investing a limited amount of money in improvements of the 60 housing units in the property to secure tenants a decent standard of living, Arond Finance Limited generated an income of up to £262,500 annually from their leasehold after paying the annual ground rent cost of £83,500.

The offences for which Arond Finance Limited was convicted yesterday are only the tip of the iceberg of a shocking catalogue of 158 other contraventions of the Housing Regulations Act 1990 for which the company was convicted in September 2004. Camden Council has fought an ongoing battle since November 2002 to bring the company to justice for its lack of compliance with the basic requirements of leaseholders.

Quentin Given, Service Manager of Camden Council’s Environmental Health Department said: "We are very pleased with the court’s decision in the case against Arond Finance Limited. Camden Council takes it very seriously when landlords fail to live up to their responsibilities and we will not hesitate to take action against people who do not follow the law.”

Arond Finance Limited recently sold their remaining lease to the freeholder. The freeholder is currently stripping out the building prior to carrying out a complete refurbishment and the remaining 2 residents are being offered new homes.

To this Quentin Given adds: “The council is delighted that Inglewood Mansions is going to be made fit for human habitation, but is concerned that Arond Finance Limited may still manage other properties outside Camden. We will be happy to provide any interested parties with information on our dealings with Around Finance Limited."

For more information please contact Helle Nordberg, Camden Council’s Press Office in tel. 02079746023 or email: helle.nordberg@camden.gov.uk <mailto:helle.nordberg@camden.gov.uk>.

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