Unlicensed York Road house in multiple occupation leads to landlords being fined

Two property companies have been fined more than £21,000 after Southend City Council uncovered serious safety breaches at an unlicensed House in Multiple Occupation (HMO).

Westpoint Property Limited, the freeholder, and Griffin Residential Limited, now trading as Emoov, both pleaded guilty to nine offences each, including failing to licence the HMO and breaching HMO management regulations.

The case was heard at Basildon Magistrates’ Court on 2 September 2025. Westpoint Property Limited was ordered to pay £14,282 in fines and costs, while Griffin Residential Limited was fined £7,394.

The prosecutions followed a council inspection in September 2023 at 115 York Road, Southend, where officers found the property operating illegally as an HMO. Inspectors reported:

• No adequate fire detection or firefighting equipment in place
• Poorly maintained communal areas in need of repair
• Significant piles of waste left to accumulate on the driveway

The council said the state of the property posed a serious risk to tenants’ safety.

Cllr Martin Terry, cabinet member for community safety and regulatory services, said:
“Poorly managed and unlicensed HMOs are a real cause of concern in the city. These prosecutions send a clear message: we will take tough action against landlords and property companies who break the law and put residents at risk.

“The substantial fines imposed in this case demonstrate the seriousness of the offences and the Council’s determination to protect tenants and uphold standards.”

HMOs are properties rented out to at least three people who are not from one household but share facilities such as a kitchen or bathroom. By law, certain HMOs must be licensed to ensure they meet safety and management standards.

York Road, where the property is located, is close to Southend city centre and is densely populated with a mix of family homes and rental properties. HMOs are common in this area, but complaints have frequently been raised about overcrowding, poor management, and antisocial behaviour linked to poorly run properties.

The council said it will continue to inspect suspected unlicensed HMOs across the city and pursue enforcement action where necessary.