A council has won an appeal to enforce a Financial Penalty Notice that was served on a landlord who let out a privately rented property without a licence in place.  

A financial penalty to the value of £3,673.00 was served in July 2023 because the landlord failed to submit an application, despite numerous warnings by East Staffordshire council.

A selective licensing scheme came into effect in September 2022, which the council says “aims to improve private rented properties and the health of tenants by ensuring that all properties within the designated area are managed to a satisfactory standard and are safe and free from serious hazards prior to a licence being granted.”

It is a criminal offence to let a privately rented property in a designated area without a Selective Licence in place. Penalties include prosecution and an unlimited fine or a financial penalty up to £30,000. 

A total of nine financial penalties have been served on rogue landlords totalling over £22,000 since the start of the current selective licensing scheme. 

A council spokesperson says: “This case should act as a warning to landlords that have properties within the selective licensing area. Failure to comply with the scheme will not be tolerated and may result in enforcement action being taken against you. This is a warning to landlords that they must ensure they have a selective licence for their properties”.