A rogue landlord has been fined £5,500 following a successful prosecution by Mendip council in Somerset.

The council’s private sector housing team brought a civil case against the landlord – whose name has not been released to the press – after they were found to have operated an HMO without a licence.

The property in question – the location of which has not been disclosed – was found during a formal investigation to be “lacking adequate fire detection”, putting the residents at undue risk.

Councillor Richard Pinnock says: “While we always prefer to work with landlords and support them to achieve the required standards and meet their legal obligations, we will not shy away from taking strong enforcement action and applying sanctions where they are needed.

“We are satisfied with this outcome and hope this sends a strong message to deter other landlords from breaching their duties.

“We have a responsibility to protect tenants and ensure homes are safe, and our statutory duties allow us to take robust action when landlords are not adhering to the law.”

The council says it hopes the prosecution will deter other landlords, and adds that advice and support is available for other HMO operators.