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Unlicensed landlord fined
almost ₤10,000 by a District Judge
LIVERPOOL'S Landlord Licensing Scheme aims to drive up
standards in the private rented sector, and action is now being taken against
those who are refusing to sign up. Landlords have to meet a variety of
conditions around fire, electric and gas safety rectifying disrepair issues,
tackling pest infestations, keeping the exterior in a good state of repair and
dealing with complaints about anti social behaviour caused by tenants. At
Liverpool Magistrates Court on 23 February, Joseph McKeever, from Liverpool, was
fined after being convicted of offences relating to 2 properties he was
privately renting in the City. Mr McKeever had not attended an earlier hearing
on 9 February 2017, when he had been convicted in his absence of failing to
licence 2 properties he was privately renting in Redbrook Street, in Anfield and
Haven Road, in Fazakerley, which is an offence under the Housing Act 2004. He
was also convicted of failing to respond to 2 legal notices sent to him asking
for information under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.
Mr McKeever, who failed to attend court for sentencing, was fined ₤2,000 per
offence for failing to licence the properties and ₤2,500 per offence for failing
to comply with the legal notice. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge
of ₤170 and pay the City council costs of ₤776.46; a total of ₤9946.46.
The prosecution brings to 10 the number of landlords who have been prosecuted so
far, with fines totalling ₤27,000.
Cabinet Member for housing, Councillor Frank Hont, said:- "This is the
latest in a series of enforcement action we are taking against those landlords
who failed to come on board and apply for licences when the scheme was
introduced in 2015. A large proportion of landlords have willingly signed up for
the scheme and are working positively with us, which is why it is not fair on
them that some are wilfully ignoring the law. Mr McKeever's failure to work with
us is now costing him dear and a lot more than the few hundred pounds it would
have cost him had he applied for the 2 licences in the 1st place. Our message to
those landlords that haven't signed up is that you are committing a criminal
offence and if you don't engage you will get a big bill in Court."
In sentencing District Judge Shaw commented on the fact that the properties had
been rented by McKeever since at least 2013, and that he was in receipt of
public funds in the form of housing benefit for the properties. Around
8,000 landlords responsible for more than 44,000 properties are already engaged
with the Landlord Licensing scheme. Current and prospective tenants can access a
database
online to see if their landlord has started
the application process. Landlord licensing has the backing of campaign groups
including Shelter and Generation Rent. |
