Family-run agency landlord fined £30k for HMO breaches

A Liverpool family run agency landlord has been fined £30,000 for failing to obtain licences for two properties housing students.

Trophy Homes in Liverpool’s Wavertree pleaded guilty at Liverpool Magistrates Court to failing to apply for a HMO (Houses of Multiple Occupation) licence for the homes, located on Silvester Street in Vauxhall and Highgate Street in Edge Hill.

POORLY RUN

At the hearing last week District Judge Hatton described the company as ‘poorly run’ with a clear lack of regard for tenants by failing to obtain licences and comply with their legal obligations.

Liverpool City Council’s legal team told the court that there had been ‘a blatant disregard’ for the obligations that come with being in control of HMOs.

The properties had issues with safety and poor management due to ineffective fire doors, overflowing drainage in the shared living room and intermittent electricity and gas supplies.

A manhole (pictured) had been placed over a hole in the lounge of the Highgate Street property.

The company was aware of the legislation as it had been found guilty of a previous breach of the legislation in February 2020 when it was fined £45,000 for similar offences.

Trophy Homes Limited was fined £15,000 for each property, plus costs of £904.43 and a victim surcharge of £190.

SUB-STANDARD

Liverpool City Council (main picture) Cabinet Member for Strategic Housing and Development, Cllr Sarah Doyle, says: “Trophy Homes Limited was happy to take the rent from students, yet provided them with sub-standard accommodation that put them at risk of injury, or much worse.

“Our recently launched Landlord Licensing scheme gives us the capacity to really step up our ability to inspect private sector rental properties, and take action when it is needed.

We won’t hesitate to step in when we have evidence of rogue landlords giving tenants a raw deal.”

“We won’t hesitate to step in when we have evidence of rogue landlords giving tenants a raw deal, and I would urge anyone who does have any information to report it via our website at liverpool.gov.uk so that we can carry out an investigation.”

Trophy Homes is run by directors Robert Broadhurst, 65, Maria Broadhurst, 66 and Sean Broadhurst, 39 and according to Companies House accounts for Trophy Homes are overdue.

Trophy Homes has been approached for comment.