Sarao Estates, a property management company based on Holyhead Road, has denied allegations of possessing unlicensed flats within two houses in Birmingham designated as Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
The company appeared at Birmingham Magistrates Court on Thursday, 13 August, facing eight charges under the Housing Act 2004. The charges pertain to two adjacent properties owned by Sarao Estates on Dolphin Road in the Tyseley area, each converted into three separate flats.
Managing Director Sumeet Singh Sarao represented the firm personally and pleaded not guilty to all charges presented.
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Prosecutors from Birmingham City Council claimed the company failed to secure appropriate selective licences for both properties and each of the six individual flats during the period of the offences in November last year. Additionally, Sarao Estates was accused of not informing the council about the conversion of the houses into multiple flats.
Kate Symms, representing the council, stated, “The company managed residential properties requiring licensing but did not obtain these within the required timeframe, resulting in the summons.”
Mr Sarao, without legal counsel, maintained that all properties and flats are now correctly licensed. He explained that the two houses held licences at the time of the alleged offences-one becoming active in October 2024 and the other in August of the previous year. However, they were later advised that individual flats required separate licences. Mr Sarao added that when attempting to register each flat, the council initially did not provide the option to do so.
The magistrates have adjourned the case, scheduling a trial date for 11 January next year.