13th
Oct 2019
The first landlord ever in England has been banned from any involvement in the private rented sector for five years.
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Telford and Wrekin council took a Telford landlord to a tribunal court resulting in the 'rogue' being banned for five years and has been ordered to pay back the housing benefit the council had paid him for two of his ex- tenants.
The council successfully applied for the banning and repayment orders against the landlord after prosecuting him for operating an unlicensed HMO.
The Property Chamber was told at the First Tier Tribunal hearing, that the landlord was not a fit and proper person to be awarded an HMO licence.
It also heard that the landlord had realised he had no chance of ever being awarded a licence when applying for one, however he carried on regardless running a seven-bedroomed property and advertising any vacant rooms.
He had also failed to give tenants assured shorthold tenancy licences by and instead issued them with 'licenses'.
The licences included a clause that tenants could be evicted in less than 48 hours.
Councillor Richard Overton, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for enforcement, said: “This is a landmark case; the first banning order to be applied since it became part of law more than a year ago.
“It shows how seriously we take the issue of rogue landlords.
“It is thanks to the hard work and dedication of our officers that once his existing leases expire this now former landlord can no longer continue to operate until 2024.”
Esther McVey, the government's Housing minister, said: “Everyone deserves a decent and safe place to live, and I am determined to crack down on rogue landlords who consistently choose to neglect their responsibilities.
“I welcome the fact that councils like Telford & Wrekin are making use of the powers available to tackle these criminals, forcing them to either raise their standards or leave the sector entirely.”
Telford & Wrekin Council believes that the former landlord has already applied to appeal against the tribunal's rulings.
Richard Merrick of PIMS, said: " Council's are forever introducing landlord selective licencing schemes which are becoming widespread, in their apparent efforts to 'weed out' rogue landlords.
"Good landlords are sick and tired of having to continually to pay through the nose for schemes and not seeing any real action taken against 'rogues'. Many believe that councils are happy to issue fines."
"Why has it taken more than a year for one 'rogue' to be banned from the private rented sector by just one council?
"Is it that they rely on 'top ups' from fines and banning 'rogues' stops an income revenue stream?"
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