A landlord from Wallasey pleaded guilty to two charges brought by Wirral Council under the Housing Act 2004 at Birkenhead Magistrates Court (Photos on Flickr).
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Geoffrey Irving, from Breck Road, Wallasey was fined £3,000 and ordered to pay £700 costs after admitting the offences, which concerned his ownership and management of a large House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) in New Brighton.
The two offences were failing to comply with a Prohibition Order and for operating an unlicensed HMO. It was the second time Mr Irving had been prosecuted for failing to fall in line with a court order in relation to this property. Last year, he was fined by the court for not complying with an Improvement Notice requiring him to carry out works on the house, a four-storey Victorian property converted into 18 units of accommodation housing vulnerable tenants.
The Prohibition Order had followed on from the original Improvement Notice as Mr Irving had continued to allow the property to be lived in even though the programme of remedial works had still not been carried out. These works required action to be taken to improve fire safety, electrical safety, damp and mould growth and facilities for personal hygiene.
The property was required to be licensed under the Mandatory Licensing Scheme. Mr Irving did not hold the required license.
Councilor George Davies, Wirral Council’s Cabinet member for Neighbourhoods, Housing and Engagement, said: “This is an example of how we will take the strongest possible action against those landlords who have little or no regard for the safety and wellbeing of their tenants”
“We have a team dedicated to ensuring that, in particular, Houses in Multiple Occupation meet certain acceptable standards and adhere to all the appropriate licenses and regulations as these often house some of the most vulnerable members of the community.”
Most of the occupants of this property have been assisted by the Council in finding suitable alternative accommodation and we are continuing to work with the remaining five residents to get them re-housed.
