The owner of a three-storey property in Totteridge has been ordered to pay over £15,000 after failing to obtain a House of Multiple Occupancy (HMO) licence.

Barnet Council were made aware of the unlicensed three-storey property in Southway belonging to landlord Suresh Nathan Paramaswara.

Upon inspection, the council’s private sector housing team found the house was occupied by four separate lettings and a total of four tenants.

Just prior to the inspection the house had been occupied by six tenants.

The loft space had been converted into two lettings which were "very small", the council said.

It said if Paramaswara had applied for a licence, it would have identified the unsatisfactory conditions during the licensing inspection.

Paramaswara was convicted at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (June 25) – and was ordered to pay £15,281 in fines and costs.

Cllr Gabriel Rozenberg, Chairman of the Housing Committee, said: “HMO licensing is not a new regulatory tool. Barnet now has more than 1,000 licences issued to landlords of HMOs who have taken appropriate steps to ensure that they are meeting their legal requirements.

“Landlords have been required to obtain a licence for their HMOs for several years. Those who fail to do so can expect us to take enforcement action against them.

“I encourage landlords of licensed premises to report others in the rental market who refuse to follow the law.”

The council is keen to work with landlords to assist them in meeting their legal requirements and ensuring that accommodation is of the necessary legal standards.

Landlords who fail to license their properties will be subject to the full range of enforcement powers, including prosecution and a penalty notice of up to £30,000.