Rogue private rented sector landlord Thomas Flight pleaded guilty to committing consumer protection offences against his tenants at Bristol Crown Court after an investigation by Bristol Council's private housing team into his use of false identities and fake letting agencies.

The landlord was described as having used "an elaborate web of misinformation designed to exploit his tenants" and was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay the council's costs of £25,000. He has also reportedly repaid £10,646 to the tenants that he exploited. After a number of court hearings the landlord came to an agreement with the council to plead guilty to 4 of the 6 charges levelled against him.

The council had received complaints between June 2019 and January 2021 about a property management business which operated under a range of different names from an address in Portland Square in Bristol. This meant that it couldn't be discerned by tenants who they were actually dealing with or who was ultimately responsible for resolving problems that arose. The council's private housing team worked with a colleague in trading standards to trace money paid by the tenants back to Mr Flight who had used "various companies and trading names to receive rent, fees and deposits" thus hiding his true identity from his tenants.

His exploits enabled him to take and keep security deposits from tenants and not return them when required and to charge illegal and hidden fees to his tenants. Tenants also received "made-up" landlord and letting agent information. Even during one of the court hearings Mr Flight provided documentary information to Bristol Council officers which turned out to be false.

Cllr. Tom Renhard, Cabinet Member for Housing delivery and Homes, said "Mr Flight took advantage of tenants and that is simply not acceptable. We will continue to do all we can to pursue unscrupulous landlords where evidence of criminal exploitation is found". The council said that Mr Flight was not banned from letting properties as the offences did not come with the list of banning offences under the Housing and Planning Act 2016.

With the culmination of legal proceedings meaning the case and the extraordinary history behind Mr Flight's practices can be fully reported, The Bristol Cable has a full and eyeopening report on this particular private rented sector saga including how Mr Flight allegedly harassed some of his tenants beyond his commercial falsehoods.

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