Two property managers have been charged with breaching housing regulations in relation to their management of a home in multiple occupation (HMO) in Shadwell.

Sofina Begum and Aminur Rahman were charged at Thames Magistrates Court on October 31.

The defendants both gave the same address in Solander Gardens, Shadwell and both required a Sylheti Bengali translator.

Both Begum, 50, and Rahman, 53, were charged with being the controller or manager of a licensed multiple occupancy house knowingly permitting unauthorised occupation.

Additionally, the pair were both charged with failure to comply with the requirements of a housing notice under Section 235 [of the Housing Act].

Begum received four charges of being the license holder/person restricted by license of a multiple occupancy house failing to comply with license conditions, whereas Rahman was charged once for the same offence.

A multiple occupancy house, also known as a home in multiple occupation, is any property housing three or more tenants in two or more distinct households, with shared bathroom, toilet, or kitchen facilities.

Section 235 of the Housing Act 2004 provides powers to order individuals to produce documents in order to investigate if an offence has been committed.

The flat, 18 Maddocks House on the Tarling West Estate was the site of a fire in March 2023 which killed 41-year-old resident Mizanur Rahman. At the time, ELL reported that 17 other people were living in the flat, which was full of bunkbeds and mattresses.

This week’s court hearing was not related to the fire at 18 Maddocks House or the death of Mizanur Rahman.

The court heard that the defendants’ next hearing would be adjourned until 2pm on November 28.