A landlord was prosecuted after a council discovered he had unlawfully allowed occupation of a prohibited property.
Following a complaint from a recently vacated tenant in February 2022, Rochford council deemed premises unfit for human habitation and a prohibition notice under the provisions of the Housing Act 2004 section 20 and 21 was served in March 2022.
In May 2022 the council received information that persons were living in the property. A warrant was then obtained for entry and persons were found residing in the property in breach of the Prohibition Order.
Prosecution proceedings were started and in February this year the landlord appeared at Basildon Magistrates Court.
The landlord pleaded guilty to the offence and received a £300 fine, ordered to pay £1,700 prosecution costs and a £34 victim surcharge.
The court ordered a 28 day collection order.
A council spokesperson says: “We hope this successful prosecution acts as a warning to all landlords within the district. We will not tolerate landlords that allow residents to live in unfit properties.
