Landlords are being urged to make sure they comply with their legal responsibilities after two men had to pay £2,000 costs to Stafford Borough Council.
The local landlord and his managing agent were given a caution after the borough council found the three-storey house they rented out was not licensed. The council investigated after a tenant complained to them about repairs which needed doing at the property in the Coton area of Stafford.
The two men accepted a caution and paid the £2,000 costs of the council investigation.
The property was occupied by five students over three-stories which meant it needed a HMO licence under the Housing Act 2004.
Councillor Patrick Farrington, cabinet member for community, said: “If a landlord or managing agent is in any doubt of their responsibilities in renting out property then please get in touch with us.
“We run a number of forums throughout the year for landlords which are free to attend and where there is expert advice and presentations which often relate to changes in the law or new responsibilities for those renting out property.”
He added: “The law is in place to protect both the tenant and the landlord and it can be a very costly business if you fall short of your legal duties.”
In August a Stafford landlord was ordered by a court to pay more than £4,200 after pleading guilty to breaching his responsibilities to keep his property safe - telling local magistrates he had “buried his head in the sand” and not listened to the council’s advice.
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