Two landlords have been both received fines and costs with a total of more than £9,000 for not providing documents requested by South Tyneside council.

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The two ‘recipients’ are Nicole Cameron, director of a local letting and property management company along with property manager Shamusdin Mohammad who were found guilty of not providing relevant documents to South Tyneside council, in spite of both receiving a Request for Information Notice under the Housing Act 2004.

The council’s compulsory notice required them to provide necessary documents for its investigation into what it believed to be an illegally operated HMO property in South Shields.

Cameron was ordered to pay a fine of £1,000 as well as £1,000 costs and a £100 surcharge, the property manager Mohammed was slapped with a £2,000 fine, £4,918 in costs and a £200 surcharge.

The council’s lead member for housing and community safety Councillor Jim Foreman, says: "We're committed to driving up standards in the private rented sector and building good relationships with local landlords to ensure that accommodation is well managed, safe and of a decent quality.

"The majority of landlords and agents operate in a legal and professional manner to provide homes meeting the required standards, but unfortunately there are some who poorly manage and maintain property and, in some cases, knowingly flout the law.