A private sector landlord has been fined £10,000 by City of York magistrates for renting an unsafe house in multiple occupation.
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Mr Snowdon, landlord of 29 Gillygate York, pleaded guilty to non-compliance with a Housing Act Notice when he appeared before City of York magistrates.
On the 13 April 2011, a City of York Council licensing enforcement officer conducted an unannounced inspection of the premises. The officer found that the premises had 8 tenants living over four floors and that the premises did not hold a licensable Housing Multiple Order (HMO license), as required by the Housing Act 2004.
The premise was found to be severely lacking in fire detection equipment and had a total lack of fire prevention equipment. The amenities were also found to be well below those required by the Act.
Mr Snowdon was interviewed by council officers and subsequently appeared at York Magistrates court on the 22 September 2011, where he pleaded guilty to failing to license a HMO.
Mr Snowdon appeared at York Magistrates on the 20th October 2011, for sentencing, and was fined £10,000, ordered to pay costs of £1,216.50 and a £15 victim surcharge.
Cllr Tracey Simpson-Laing, cabinet member for Health, Housing and Adult Social Services at City of York Council, said: “City of York Council is committed to tackling rogue private landlords. In the last 3 years the council has received on average between 250 and 300 complaints against private landlords every year. A large proportion of these problems were resolved through the council working with landlords and letting agents, but where landlords blatantly disregard officers attempts to work together, the decision will be made to prosecute to ensure the necessary work is carried out.”
