A Nottingham landlord has been ordered to pay nearly £4,000 after failing to licence properties in the city.
Jaswinder Singh, of Woodbank Drive in Nottingham, was found guilty of two offences under Sections 72 (1) and 85 (1) of the Housing Act 2004 – Selective and Additional Licensing.
The properties are in Hawton Crescent, Wollaton and Rossington Road, Sneinton.
During sentencing, Mansfield Magistrates Court ordered him to pay a fine and legal costs totalling £3,928.44.
The total rental income for the two properties amounted to around £1,232 per month. The cost of licensing both properties would be £2,020 for up to 5 years.
Nottingham City Council has previously taken action against Singh in January 2019, when he was convicted of a breach of HMO management regulations (s234)(3) HA 2004 and obstruction of council officers in the performance of their duties under s241 (1) and (3) of the Housing Act 2004.
The local authority says the purpose of the licensing schemes is to make sure the properties are suitable for living and ensure all landlords and managers are ‘fit and proper’ and their management structures and funding arrangements for the property are suitable.
Licensing enables the council to work with landlords to raise standards in their properties and to help them manage property-related issues including anti-social behaviour, which "minimises any negative impact on the neighbourhood and keep residents safe", the council said.
Councillor Linda Woodings, portfolio holder for planning, housing and heritage at Nottingham City Council, said: “We will always try to work with landlords to make sure their properties are licensed; however, we won’t hesitate to take strong action against those who purposely fail to licence their properties.
“Our licensing schemes help to ensure that tenants live in homes that are to a good standard, which everyone deserves. I hope this puts out a message to other property agents, companies and landlords that if they don’t work with us to licence their properties, then they could face prosecution.”
