A council has won an appeal to enforce two Financial Penalty Notices that were served on the same landlord who let out a privately rented property, which was split into two flats, without a licence in place.  

The property falls within an East Staffordshire council designated Selective Licensing area but the Landlord failed to apply for a licence for each flat. 

Financial Penalties to the total value of £7,752.00 was served on the landlord in August 2023 and again in September 2023 because the landlord failed to submit an application, despite numerous warnings by the council.

The local Selective Licensing regime came into effect in September 2022 and the council claims that it 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.

A council spokesperson says: “I would encourage any landlord that has not complied with the scheme to submit an application without delay. Failure to comply with the scheme will not be tolerated and enforcement will be considered for any landlord that consistently fails to comply with the requirements of the Selective Licensing Scheme”.