An angry landlord has appeared at a magistrates court to deny a charge relating to local council licensing. 

Local media report that Pavlos Chatzinopoulos, of Swindon, appeared at the town’s magistrates court accused of being in control of an unlicensed HMO.

Under rules introduced in 2018, anyone managing a house under multiple occupation by five or more people who are not related to each other must have a licence from the council.

Swindon council claims that Chatzinopoulos, a live-in landlord at his five-bedroom house, was operating an unlicensed HMO after being told of the need to purchase a £1,050 licence.

Chatzinopoulos denied the claim, citing a passage of the Housing Act.

A date for a full trial will be fixed later.