Landlord fined for HMO licence breaches

A landlord has pleaded guilty for failing to comply with license conditions at a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) she ran in Hastings. 

Joanna Hodgson pleaded guilty at Worthing Magistrates Court to seven offences of failing to comply with licence conditions as required under the terms of her HMO licence relating to a property in Cornwallis Terrace. 

An inspection of the property found that the emergency lighting system had not been maintained, there were no adequate escape routes from the property, while the communal parts were poorly maintained. 

Councillor Kim Forward, Hastings Borough Council’s lead member for housing, said: “The council has a duty to protect tenants from rogue landlords and the licensing controls set agreed standards that should always be met by landlords. 

“We take these issues very seriously indeed and the council will continue to seek out unlicensed properties and prosecute owners who ignore requests to licence their properties.” 

Hodgson was fined £5,250 with £682 costs.

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