A "substandard" Wirral landlord who put tenants "at risk" after a catalogue of failures has been fined for the second time.
Landlord Frank Morrow from New Brighton was fined over £7,000 after being found guilty of failing to obtain correct licenses for two properties he rented out as well as failing to carry out repairs and safety checks earlier this month.
At a court hearing held at Liverpool Magistrates Court on September 8, he was found guilty of a total of six Housing Act offences and ordered to pay £7,190.
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Morrow had previously been fined nearly £4000 in 2020 after pleading guilty to six offences including filing to obtain a license under Wirral Council's selective licensing scheme for two properties as well as failing to carry out gas and electricity safety checks and essential repairs to the properties.
During an inspection in July 2020 it emerged that he had failed to begin most of the repair works required under previously-issued improvement notices.
A spokesperson for Wirral Council who brought the case against Morrow to court said: "A landlord from New Brighton has been prosecuted for a second time for breaches of Wirral Council’s Selective Licensing scheme.
"The council’s Housing Standards Team took landlord Frank Morrow to court for failing to obtain licences for two properties he owned located in designated Selective Licence areas. He was also found guilty of failing to carry out repairs at his privately rented properties.
"The outstanding repairs included the requirement to carry out mandatory gas safety and electrical checks.
"Following an inspection in July 2020 housing officers found the majority of the requested works required under previously-issued improvement notices had not even been started.
"Morrow was found guilty on September 8th 2021 by Liverpool Magistrates Court of six offences under the Housing Act 2004 and ordered to pay fines and costs of £7,190.
"Previously - on January 15th 2020 – Morrow had pleaded guilty to six offences under Housing Act 2004. These offences were for operating two properties in a Selective Licence area without the required licences, failing to comply with two improvement notices and failing to provide certain documents, including those related to gas and electrical safety. He was ordered to pay £3,777.
"In the most recent case, District Judge Healy advised Mr Morrow that these are continuing offences, which is putting him at risk of further prosecution."
Cllr Julie McManus, Chair of Wirral Council’s Housing Committee, said: “This landlord has shown contempt for the Selective Licence scheme, which is designed to protect tenants from sub-standard accommodation.
"Above all, his actions put his tenants at risk of harm.
“The council’s Housing Standards team will take the strongest possible action against landlords who fail to carry out their statutory obligations.
"These cases send a clear message that the council will look to work with good landlords to improve the private-rented sector and clamp down on poor or criminal landlords.”
Wirral Council currently operates two Selective Licensing schemes within the borough aimed at improving poor property conditions and improving standards of management for private rentals.
Among the requirements for landlords, license holders are required to carry out and document basic safety checks and show they have appropriate management arrangements.
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