Two private landlords have been fined over £90,000 for renting out their two-bedroom flat to as many as 23 people.
Two landlords in Tower Hamlets have been handed fines exceeding £90,000 after illegally cramming up to 23 people into a two-bedroom flat, in a flagrant breach of housing regulations. The flat, located in Maddocks House, Shadwell, was legally licenced for only three people from two households, but was instead being run as an overcrowded and unsafe rental property.
Following a prosecution by Tower Hamlets Council, landlords Sofina Begum, 52, and Aminur Rahman, 55, were sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Thursday, 6 February 2025. Their convictions had been secured in November 2023 at Thames Magistrates’ Court, after they were found guilty of multiple breaches under the Housing Act 2004. The court imposed a confiscation order to recover the illicit earnings made from exploiting tenants.
Sofina Begum was ordered to pay a £10,000 fine, £2,000 in prosecution costs, and a £2,000 victim surcharge. She was also told to pay a confiscation order of £78,049, reflecting the financial gain made from the overcrowded property. Aminur Rahman was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £800, in addition to a confiscation order of £1.01p.
The landlords had admitted to nine separate charges, including failing to comply with licensing conditions, neglecting essential safety inspections, and allowing dangerous overcrowding. They had also failed to provide the council with required documentation and did not have a valid gas safety certificate for the property.
“National action is urgently needed and we welcome the Government’s announcement that it will set out new measures to help protect renters across the country.”
Lutfur Rahman, Executive Mayor
The devastating consequences of such negligence became evident when one of the tenants, 41-year-old Mizanur Rahman, lost his life in a fire at the property on 5 March 2023. Investigations revealed that the fire was caused by a faulty lithium-ion battery from an e-bike that was charging inside the flat.
Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman, described the case as deeply concerning, emphasising that no tenant should have to live in such dangerous conditions. He said the loss of Mizanur Rahman was a tragic reminder of what happens when landlords prioritise profit over people’s safety. He warned that the council would continue to crack down on rogue landlords who exploit tenants, calling for stronger national measures to tackle illegal rental practices.
The case is part of a broader effort by Tower Hamlets Council to enforce stricter housing regulations. In October 2023, the council expanded its additional licensing scheme for houses in multiple occupation, extending it to cover areas such as Weavers, Whitechapel, Spitalfields, and Banglatown. The new rules, which came into effect in April 2024, are aimed at ensuring landlords meet their legal responsibilities and that tenants live in safe, properly managed properties.
As part of its commitment to protecting renters, the council has helped 299 tenants reclaim a total of £1.4 million through rent repayment orders after being housed in unlicensed or substandard properties.
Following the fatal fire at Maddocks House, the council and the London Fire Brigade launched the #ChargeSafe campaign in September 2023 to raise awareness about the dangers of lithium-ion batteries used in e-bikes and e-scooters. Since its launch, 91 unsafe and imported batteries have been seized and destroyed in local shops to prevent further incidents.
Tower Hamlets Council continues to send a clear message that landlords who exploit tenants and endanger lives will face severe consequences. The prosecution of Begum and Rahman serves as a warning that illegal rental practices will not be tolerated, and that action will be taken against those who flout the law.
