A landlord has been fined £23,138 after being found guilty of failing to licence a rented property and non-compliance with a Prohibition Order. 

Alan Hudson of Oxford was found guilty of one count of failing to licence the property and one count of failing to comply with a Prohibition Order.  

The Prohibition Order had been served following an inspection by council officers who identified severe damp and mould, electrical hazards, fire safety, excess cold and structural collapse. 

Councillor Mike Rowley – whose title is Cabinet Member for Regulation of the Private Rented Sector and Preventing Homelessness – says: “I am pleased by the substantial fine charged in this particular case as it serves as a deterrent to other landlords and reiterates that standards in the private rented sector in Oxford will be upheld.”  

He goes on to say: “Some landlords are taking advantage of the city’s housing shortage to rent out badly maintained properties to multiple occupants.   

“The HMO Licensing Scheme and Selective Licensing Scheme was introduced to raise standards in the city’s private rental sector and make sure all rented homes are safe for tenants to live in.   

“The message to landlords is clear, if you don’t meet your legal obligations to your tenants and keep your properties up to the required standard, then the city council will take action against you.”