Two letting agents have been fined thousands of pounds after putting their tenants at "completely unnecessary risk" by overcrowding and failing to licence six shared houses.

The houses in Martello Close, Grays were bought by Mews Investments Limited  in April 2017 and let to MEO Lettings and Management Limited, which then individually let the rooms.

Thurrock Council became aware that the homes were being occupied as 'houses in multiple occupation' (HMO) without being properly licensed a month later. An unannounced visit also revealed that the properties were overcrowded and not meeting the Essex Amenity Standards for HMOs.

Mews Investments Limited and its director Alan Webb of Shepherds Hill, Romford, and MEO Lettings and Management Limited and its director Peter Guzmicky of London Road, Grays, each pleaded guilty to 6 charges of failure to licence under the Housing Act 2004 and received hefty fines when they were sentenced at Colchester Magistrates Court last Thursday (6 December).

Webb was fined £6,000, ordered to pay £5,011 in costs and a £100 victim surcharge, while his company Mews Investments Limited was fined £6,000, forced to pay £1,180 in costs and a £100 victim surcharge. Guzmicky and MEO Lettings and Management Limited were each fined £3,000, ordered to pay £1,180 in costs and a £50 victim surcharge.

Barry Johnson, councillor for housing, said: "These two companies are well-established letting agents in the borough and should have been well aware of their licensing responsibilities. By failing to apply for licences and overcrowding these properties they put their tenants at completely unnecessary risk while lining their own pockets.

"This prosecution sends a very clear message that we will not tolerate landlords and letting agents flouting the rules."

Thurrock Council eventually received applications for HMO licences for the six houses in December 2017 and they have now been licensed.