Siddharth Mahajan Property Case in United Kingdom - Tulip Hotels Owner complete

1. Siddharth Mahajan Property Case in United Kingdom: Complete Case Study If you have any dealings in the property industry, you might have heard the nameSiddharth Mahajan. It is often connected with the idea of the unethical landlord and illegal properties.But just how accurate is thisdepiction? TheSiddharth Mahajan property caseis much more complicated than the version portrayed both in the press and in the rumours swirling around online. Let’s have a closer look at thecase and find out more about what really happened andwhy. Who is Siddharth Mahajan in the UnitedKingdom? Siddharth Mahajan is a real estate entrepreneur and the owner of Tulip Hotels and Real Estate Ltd. He was accused of forging documents and not complying with the UK regulationsregarding the status and use of Houses in Multiple Occupation, also known as HMOs. But the facts of the case are disputed by Siddharth Mahajan. He claims that he broke no laws and forged no documents. Mr. Mahajan comes from a background in hospitality, completing his degree inHotel Management from the Oriental School of Hotel Management. He worked for several years inhis native India before making the move to London. He started his business with the aim ofcatering for travellers looking for a little bit of home whenabroad. His empire soon grew to more than 50 properties, all offering accommodation to peoplevisiting the UK for longperiods. What is anHMO? Siddharth Mahajan then had the idea to let the different rooms in his properties on anindividual basis. The idea was based on the concept of a serviced apartment, targeting corporate visitors and overseas students. This concept grew to incorporate all 57 of his properties, some in his name and others in the name of his business, TulipHotels. HMOs are common across the UK but they require a different set of licences to otherrental properties. Any investor planning on converting a building to HMO status needs to do so in accordance with the law. Speak to your local council to find outmore.

2. Siddharth Mahajan Case in UnitedKingdom In 2015, Mahajan received a notice from Barking and Dagenham Borough in East London. The notice claimed that three of the properties Siddharth Mahajan was renting out were illegal asthey did not have the correctlicences. Siddharth disagreed and said that all properties had the correct licences and that he had not been informed about the change in licencing nature for HMOs. He claimed that his licenceswere granted in 2014, after the period when the new licences should have been required. The council informed him that there were two departments dealing with the licencing, but they still alleged that he had broken the law and sought prosecution againsthim. Siddharth Mahajan was advised not to speak about the pending case, even though there were multiple allegations against him in the public sphere. He claimed he was being made a scapegoat for someone else’s errors. In total, 18 charges were levelled against him but only two were actually carried forward. The remaining charges were dropped due to lack of evidence,and Siddharth Mahajan claims the remaining two are alsofalse. Siddharth Mahajan Trial in UnitedKingdom During the three-week trial, the local authority claimed the three properties in question were transformed into six-room HMOs without the appropriate licensing. They also accused Mahajan of not submitting the required plans for changes to the council. He protested that if there was such a law requiring him to submit these plans then authorities ought to have informed him ofthe same during the license applicationprocedure. Mahajan claimed the properties had been in use for more than 10 years as HMOs. This would make them immune from enforcement action. He submitted evidence including tenancy agreements and sworn affidavits from tenants. However, the Special Investigations Teamfound that the documents were forgeries and the affidavits were alsofalse. Siddharth Mahajan Verdict in UnitedKingdom In January 2019, a jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court found Mahajan guilty. This was on two counts of perverting the course of justice and a further three counts of using forgeddocuments. The judge then passed a sentence of eight months imprisonment on each conviction to run concurrently. That meant a total of sixteenmonths. Speaking about the verdict, HH Judge Gordon said Siddharth Mahajan hade ‘planned sophisticated criminal activity over a lengthy period.’ He added that he was motivated ‘solelyby greed.’ But Siddharth Mahajan disputed both these assessments and the guilty verdict. He has appealed theconvictions.

3. Speaking about the case after the verdict, Councillor Mullane, Cabinet Member forEnvironment and Community Safety said: ‘This case shows Barking and Dagenham Council’s absolute determination to protect our residents from rogue landlords who put profit beforepeople.’ What to make of the Siddharth Mahajan propertycase The eyes of the law have found Siddharth Mahajan guilty and until any successful appeal,then this is factually accurate. However, he maintains his innocence and has gone to great lengths online to try and prove it. Aquick Google search brings up hundreds of articles where he tries to prove his innocence, and it is clear that there was clearly some confusion with the two departments overseeing the planningelement. The bottom line is that landlords need to be very careful that they have the right documentation and licencing for any HMO or other rental property. In order to be sure that they are in compliance with the law and not subject to further legal action, it pays to be extra careful tohave everything inplace. Stories like the Siddharth Mahajan property case can be avoided if you follow the rightadvice. And while we may never know the truth in the case, we can be sure of what to do in our own situation to avoid legal action.If you would like to know more about the Siddharth Mahajan property case or to discuss your responsibilities as a landlord of a rental property, get in touch with a member of our team here at PropertyClassifieds