An estate agent has been fined thousands of pounds for failing to license three of the homes it managed.

Green House Estate Agents, of Silver Street, Edmonton, fell foul of an Enfield scheme that requires rented properties to meet certain conditions and be licensed.

The estate agent was ordered to pay £35,000 at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court on February 2 for failing to obtain licences for three homes in Upper Edmonton (N18).

Under Enfield Council’s rules, a licence must be obtained for all privately rented residential properties occupied by one or two people, or one family household.

The scheme is currently in place in 14 wards across the borough.

Following an investigation, council officers found that not only did the three homes not have the correct licence, but that there was also evidence of disrepair inside the properties.

Fire safety deficiencies, damp and “a general lack of management” were all reported.

Green House Estate Agents was convicted on November 24, 2022, and did not attend the sentencing hearing last week.

Enfield Council’s cabinet member for licensing, planning and regulatory services, Cllr Susan Erbil, said: “There are many law-abiding landlords in the private rented sector in the borough, and the council is here to help and advise them to ensure their properties reach the required standards and are properly licensed.

“Unfortunately, there are also landlords who break the law by not obtaining the legally required licence to let their properties.

“The council’s successful prosecution of Green House Estates should be wake up call to all unscrupulous landlords who do not comply with the law.”

The estate agent was also ordered to pay costs totalling £2,348, as well as a surcharge of £2,000 for each prosecution.