A landlord operating an HMO has been prosecuted by Broxtowe council in Nottinghamshire.
Following a complaint from one of the tenants, the council carried out an inspection of the HMO and served legal notices requiring the landlord to provide information regarding the number of people living at the address and to provide copies of the tenancy agreements.
The landlord failed to comply and failed to engage in an investigation into the offences.
At a hearing in September 2024, the landlord pleaded guilty to one offence of failing to comply with a notice served under Section 16 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 and one offence of failing to comply with a notice served under Section 235 of the Housing Act 2004.
The landlord was fined £581 and ordered to pay the Council’s costs of £1,129.16 and a victim surcharge of £232.
Having also identified hazards within the HMO, the council served an enforcement notice which required the landlord to carry out repairs by a deadline.
The remedial works required included rectifying water leaks, repairing door handles, installing additional fire alarms, replacing door locks and repairing faulty electrical sockets.
The landlord failed and failed to engage in investigations so at a hearing in February 2025 – which the landlord failed to attend – he was found guilty of failing to comply with an Improvement Notice and failing to comply with his duties under The Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006, offences as per Sections 30 and 234 of the Housing Act 2004 respectively.
The landlord was fined £660 for each offence and ordered to pay the council’s costs of £1,226.05 and a victim surcharge of £528.
This article is taken from Landlord Today