Repairs ordered for illegal HMO at historic home

COUNCIL bosses have ordered repairs be made to a historic former bishop’s home which was turned into an illegal house in multiple occupation (HMO).

- By DANIEL HOLLAND Local Democracy Reporter

Two directors of a company who held a lease on East Denton Hall, in Newcastle, were fined £60,000 this summer after 21 people, mainly care workers and also two children, were discovered to be sharing 14 bedrooms and one kitchen at the mansion.

The 17th century building, also known as the Bishop's House, was deemed a serious health and safety hazard, with Newcastle City Council having found it had no fire detection system or emergency lighting and there were exposed wires in a fuse box.

Judith Elizabeth Bango and Abid Hussain, directors of House of Peace Enterprises Ltd, were each fined £30,000, having been found guilty in the absence at Newcastle Magistrates Court of running an unlicensed HMO at the property and multiple breaches of HMO management regulations.