A landlord who continually disregarded the safety of his tenants and failed to licence his properties has been prosecuted and fined £14,000.
Martin Horsfall , from north Leeds, was ordered to pay a total of £20,817.62 at Leeds Magistrates court on Thursday 18 May, with £14,000 for failing to licence four of his properties and for failing to provide documentation. He was also ordered to repay costs to Leeds City Council of £6,802.
Council officers went to considerable lengths to engage with Mr Horsfall after discovering in March 2010 that he had four unlicensed properties within the Selective Licensing Area of East End Park and Cross Green. Mr Horsfall denied receiving any correspondence or having any recollection of any of the phone calls despite records of the conversations being made.
Mr Horsfall applied to have his case reopened after originally being prosecuted on the 17 of March 2011 in his absence. He claimed he had not received the legal summonses due to him moving address, despite seven of the summonses being opened and returned to the courts.
Mr Horsfall’s properties gave further cause for concern after visits were made to one of his properties by officers of the council which highlighted a serious lack of fire safety provision.
Councillor Peter Gruen, Leeds City Council executive board member with responsibility for neighbourhoods and housing said:
“This type of case is exactly why selective licensing was brought in. Landlords that consistently disregard the safety of their tenants and the need to hold a selective license will be prosecuted.
“The selective licensing team at the council has been extremely successful in the last 12 months and I am pleased to see this success is continuing.
”It is not fair on the tenants or other landlords in these areas if there are people disregarding the law.”
Notes to editors:
In May 2009 the Secretary of State granted Leeds City Council permission to introduce Selective licensing under the provisions of Part 3 of the Housing Act 2004 in specific areas of Cross Green and East End Park. From the 1 of October 2009 Selective Licensing came into force. The area of Cross Green and East End Park was selected due to being identified as having a high degree of empty properties in the area.
Under the Act any person, owner or landlord who is in control of a property which is being let /rented out within the Selective Licensing Area of Cross Green and East End Park must apply for a licence.
The cost of the five year licence is normally £525 which equates to approximately £2.00 per week over a five year period.
Source: Leeds City Council
