Northern managing agent to pay £8,000 after ignoring HMO letters
Agent is one of two landlords in Derby prosecuted by the city council for failing to secure an HMO licence and safety breaches.
Two landlords in Derby have been fined more than £10,000 between them for licensing and safety breaches including managing agent Kevin Adrian Sutton, 57, who failed to respond to three reminders to renew a licence for an HMO.
An officer from the council’s housing standards team found five students living at the rented property in Milton Street, Derby.
Guilty plea
Sutton pleaded guilty at South Derbyshire Magistrates Court to breaching Section 72 of the Housing Act 2004, and failing to license the HMO property.
He was fined £9,000 (reduced to £6,000 for a guilty plea), ordered to pay the Council’s full costs and the maximum victim surcharge of £2,000.
In a separate case, Ramzan Ali, 31, was prosecuted for failing to produce documents in breach of Sections 235 and 236 of the Housing Act.
Tenants contacted the council with concerns about safety and the terms of their tenancy.
Nine hazards
Ali failed to produce a Gas Safety Certificate and tenancy agreements, and a survey found that the rented property on Eton Road, Derby, contained nine hazards.
Ali was fined £2,000, and ordered to pay the council’s full costs plus a victim surcharge of £800.
If they [landlords] decide to disregard their legal duties, we won’t hesitate to step in.”
Shiraz Khan, the council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Strategic Planning and Regulatory Services, says: “Our Housing Standards team works tirelessly to improve living standards for private renters in Derby, with their safety and well-being being a top priority.
“These cases really highlight to landlords that they absolutely must pay attention to the Council’s requests. If they decide to disregard their legal duties, we won’t hesitate to step in.”
