By Gavin Mackintosh-
A rogue landlord couple who rented their properties to ‘ghost tenants’ to avoid paying thousands in council fees have been fined almost £190,000.
Mohamed Lahrie, 55, and wife Shehara, 51, claimed they were renting six of their properties to a single tenant, but the fictitious tenant was their letting agent .
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The couple received £33,000 in rent without having to pay license fees.
They escaped initial detection because the couple did not know they were houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) so did not inspect the homes or charge HMO licence fees. Lahrie was eventually forced to sell many of his properties in order to pay the huge fines.
The Eye Of Media.Com heard he was suffering from severe panic and anxiety attacks before he was jailed.
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A source anonymously said: ”he thought he could play the system, but now he is suffering emotionally and mentally. He cannot enjoy the money he fraudulently made, and is suffering from serious anxiety attacks. Jail for him is really bad for his family name. He suffered serious panic attacks leading up to the case, but has himself to blame.
Many people felt Lahrie was out for himself mainly, not others.
The couple, who live in Hoe Street, owned 600 properties in East London through a network of at least 28 companies.
The court heard one of the six relevant properties, in Eastfield Road, was occupied by seven people under four tenancies, which they claimed was one household.
Mitigating for Mohamed Lahrie, his lawyer, Imran Khan QC, said the financial benefit of not declaring these six HMOs was “miniscule”
He said: “Mr Mohamed arrived in this country with little money in his pocket and built up a portfolio over two or three decades, through hard work with his wife.
“That property portfolio has been engaged in providing safe and fit homes for many of the residents of Waltham Forest and these six represent one per cent of that portfolio. The financial benefit to him was miniscule.
“Mr Mohamed, as a result of this case, has sold his portfolio of properties, he has sold them all.”
Waltham Forest’s legal case began in 2017 but was delayed for four years due to an unsuccessful legal challenge by the Lahries.
Council lawyer Dean Underwood said: “The aim of the licensing regime is to protect the health and safety of those who occupy the most at-risk private premises, that is HMOs.”
He added that the couple had profited “significantly more than market rent” by renting to separate tenants, although the exact figure was not stated in open court.
For example, for a Leytonstone property, in Napier
The addresses were in Eastfield Road, Chelmsford Road and Thorpe Road in Walthamstow; Napier Road and Leasowes Road in Leyton; and Ashley Road, Chingford.
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