A landlord must show how much cash he made from tenants to help a judge decide how much he should be fined.
Sanaur Rahman, 48, pleaded guilty to failing to get a licence for a house in multiple occupancy on Wilford Grove.
Sitting at Nottingham Magistrates' Court, Judge Leo Pyle adjourned the case until July 3, ordering Rahman to provide tax returns for three years.
The judge pointed out he is able to impose an unlimited fine for the offence and told him: "The purpose of the adjournment is to give the court sufficient time to deal with this appropriately.
"I will also have to be apprised of the overall seriousness of the matter and make directions for you to follow.
"Income for the last three years must be shown to the court to give some idea as to your earnings.
"I need to know tax returns, savings, bank accounts and will allocate some time to that."
Sarah Mills, for Nottingham City Council, said there were eight tenants in the house when officers attended for an inspection.
Louise O'Driscoll, mitigating, said the financial information would be provided through accountants for Rahman, whose home address was given as Beauvale Road, The Meadows.
The charge is brought under the 2004 Housing Act. It refers to Rahman being the controller or manager of a house in multiple occupation when it was not licensed.
The case had been adjourned at the request of the defence on March 15.
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