Two landlords in Bath have been ordered to more than £16,000 for failing to hold the correct HMO licences.
Elizabeth Vowles, 48, and Hayley Book, 55, from Weston pleaded guilty at Bath Magistrates’ Court to the offence under the Housing Act 2004.
The court was informed that the pair were caught operating two HMOs in the Additional Licensing Area without a licence in January 2017, despite the fact that it has been a legal requirement in certain areas of Bath since 2014.
The landlords had another HMO in the Additional Licensing Area so should have been aware of the additional licences required, the court was told.
Vowles and Book were both fined £4,000 for each property and ordered them to each to pay prosecution costs of £550 and a victim surcharge of £170.
Cllr Paul Myers said: “Our Housing Services will try to work in partnership with landlords to improve housing standards wherever possible.
"Additional licensing helps to ensure that occupants of HMOs are able to live in safe and well managed properties. Where landlords fail to licence their properties such as the case here, they are undermining the objectives of the additional licensing scheme.”
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A small time drug dealer would get less.....
just another tax
Not really though is it? If you drive a car without a licence you're committing an offence and no doubt receive a fine, it's the same principle.
£16000? usually £100 and 3 points
Well, £4000 per offence which is probably less than what one room would generate over the course of a year in a HMO. No doubt it hurt but I expect it could be afforded considering the income they're getting.
I don't want to stick to closely to my original analogy but being caught without a licence while driving would probably mean a 12 month ban, rather than points and a fine. Now there's something to consider as punishment for running an unlicensed HMO!
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