Blackpool landlord "not fit and proper" to hold licence

A Blackpool landlord has lost his “fit and proper person” status after being found guilty of not adhering to a licensing scheme.

Raymond Baguley, 58, failed to attend the third hearing of his case at Blackpool Magistrates Court, but the case was heard in his absence.

Baguley was found guilty of failing to have a licence for a property he let out in Singleton Street, central Blackpool. He was fined £750 and ordered to pay £350 costs and £75 victim surcharge.

Blackpool borough council’s selective licensing scheme requires that all privately rented properties in a given area have a licence and that landlords show they manage their properties effectively.

The decision of the court means Baguley must nominate another individual to be an interim licence holder and be formally responsible for the property. He could be subject to further legal action if he fails to do so.

Blackpool Council’s head of public protection and enforcement Tim Coglan said: “Almost all properties in South Beach are licensed but there are a handful of landlords who have flouted the law.

“Selective licensing is making an enormous difference in the area and is helping to start to drive up management standards and to address issues of anti-social behaviour through our inspection schedule and work with landlords.

“Those people who are not complying are standing in the way of that work and letting the community down.

“Securing convictions for these offences means that, as well as receiving fines and being asked to pay surcharges and costs, guilty parties are no longer considered fit and proper persons to manage property within the selective licensing area.

“They will therefore incur further cost in having to employ people to manage their properties.

“I hope this will send a message that Blackpool Council is using a determined and stringent approach to improving private rented housing.

“I hope it also shows the large number of progressive, positive landlords who have worked with us that we will not allow those who have refused to do so to get away with it.”