21st
Jul 2017
Ironically a barrister who amongst his Chambers' 'portfolio' of clients which included landlords and tenants, was found guilty and fined for not obtaining an HMO licence for his own rental property.
The Birmingham Magistrates Court was also told that his tenants' accommodation did not have heat detectors in the kitchen area and mains powered interlinked fire alarms.
He pleaded guilty to not obtaining the mandatory HMO licence as well as breaching Fire and Safety regulations in his three storey house in Birmingham, was ordered to pay fines of £4,660.
The barrister landlord Lewis Perry, who is also head of chambers that has represented landlords and tenants, received a fine of £3,500 and was ordered to pay costs of £1,120 and a victim surcharge of £120.
Birmingham City Council’s Councillor Peter Griffiths, cabinet member for housing and homes, said: “As a barrister working with landlords and tenants, Perry should have been aware of his legal responsibilities to license and install fire precautions. I am glad that we have been able to bring this landlord to justice through our specialist work on rogue landlords.”
PIMS statement: "We wanted to comment on the story as no-one should be above the law, however the legal team recommended that it would be best not to.......for the obvious reasons."
News Archive »