Landlords fined thousands for not producing the right paperwork

Two landlords have been fined £3,000 and ordered to pay more than £6,000 in costs for failing to provide documents to a local council.

Nicole Cameron, director of local letting and property management company South Tyneside Rooms, along with property manager Shamusdin Mohammad were both convicted of failing to comply with a Request for Information Notice under the Housing Act 2004.

The notice required them to provide documents to South Tyneside council which was investigating an HMO operating illegally in South Shields. 

Cameron was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £1,000 in costs and a £100 surcharge. Mohammed was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £4,918 costs and a £200 surcharge.

Councillor Jim Foreman, lead member for housing and community safety, says: "We're committed to driving up standards in the private rented sector and building good relationships with local landlords to ensure that accommodation is well managed, safe and of a decent quality.

"The majority of landlords and agents operate in a legal and professional manner to provide homes meeting the required standards, but unfortunately there are some who poorly manage and maintain property and, in some cases, knowingly flout the law.

"These hefty fines should send a very stark message about the potential consequences. We won't hesitate to take action when we think people are not operating within the law that is designed to protect tenants."

Want to comment on this story? Our focus is on providing a platform for you to share your insights and views and we welcome contributions.
If any post is considered to victimise, harass, degrade or intimidate an individual or group of individuals, then the post may be deleted and the individual immediately banned from posting in future.
Please help us by reporting comments you consider to be unduly offensive so we can review and take action if necessary. Thank you.