Four landlords have been permanently added to the Database of Rogue Landlords following enforcement action by West Northamptonshire Council.

Dimitrii Viconchi -Salisbury Street, Northampton -  Karlis Cernihs -Wycliffe Road, Northampton-, Vadims Oblivoks - Selwyn Road - London, and Aleksejs Cugurovs -Stanley Street, Northampton- are now banned from acting as landlords or taking part in any management or letting of rental properties anywhere in England.

This action follows West Northamptonshire Council securing lifetime Banning Orders under the Housing and Planning Act 2016, after the individuals were prosecuted for severe breaches of housing law. These rare sanctions permanently prohibit them from letting or managing rental properties.

Such lifetime bans highlight the Council’s strong stance on tenant protection and its ongoing efforts to raise housing standards.

Led by Christopher Stopford, the Council’s Private Sector Housing Team uncovered an illegal rent-to-rent operation in which the offenders leased properties and unlawfully sublet them as unlicensed Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

The substandard properties presented serious safety and maintenance concerns, which included

• Absence of adequate fire safety precautions and escape routes

• Poor upkeep of both individual living spaces and shared communal areas

• Neglect in maintaining water supply systems and proper drainage

• Lack of appropriate waste disposal provisions

• Non-compliance with documentation and record-keeping requirements

These conditions presented significant threats to the health and safety of tenants.

Following an in-depth investigation, the First Tier Tribunal issued its decision after a virtual hearing on 3 April this year. The case was led by Susan Desfontaines from West Northamptonshire’s in-house legal team, who served as solicitor and advocate during the banning order proceedings.

The four landlords had already faced prosecution in 2024 for managing unlicensed and non-compliant Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) throughout Northampton.