Mansfield District Council fines landlord of unlicensed HMO £17,000

The council says that it chose the civil penalty route in this case, rather than a prosecution, as the fine "will be used to help support its private sector housing team continue to monitor and regulate private landlords.
Council officers investigated the landlord after complaints were made alleging the 6 bedroom property was overcrowded. The council determined that the property was a House in Multiple Occupation and should thus have been covered by an HMO licence however, the landlord had failed to apply for such a licence.
As the imposition of the fine was uncontested by the landlord the council have not published their name but say that this fine was the third such civil penalty imposed on a private landlord over the last 3 years - the other fines being £4,787 and £12,900.
Cllr. Anne Callaghan, Portfolio Holder for Housing, said "This case shows why we need to be vigilant about the standards .... in the private rented sector - especially in these times when the need for housing is so high.
"A strong market for rented accommodation can lead to landlords cutting corners on standards and fulfilling their legal obligations .... "At the end of the day the cost of obtaining an HMO licence is a good deal less than any penalty they may have to pay for circumventing the law."
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