Two companies and two managers of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) were fined a total of £27,000 and ordered to pay costs totalling £25,000 for offences in relation to two HMOs in Newport.
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The prosecution, which centred on failure to licence the Victoria Hotel, 161 Corporation Road, and another property, 44 Corporation Road, as houses in multiple occupation together with the failure to comply with regulations, was brought by Newport City Council.
All four defendants were sentenced by District Judge John Charles at Abergavenny magistrates court on 13 May 2013.
Mahmood Hassan, of Cefn Coed Road, Cyncoed, Cardiff, pleaded guilty to three offences of managing both properties as HMOs when they were not licensed. He also admitted two offences of failing to maintain fire escapes at 44 Corporation Road and keeping all parts safe and in working order at that same property, contrary to the regulations. He was fined a total of £9,000 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £8,000.
Mohammed Zishan Ali Hassan, also of Cefn Coed Road, pleaded guilty to managing the Victoria Hotel when it was not licensed. He was fined £4,000 with costs of £4,000.
Topaz Property Company Limited pleaded guilty to two offences of managing both properties as HMOs when they were not licensed and to 10 offences under the HMO management regulations. The company was fined £11,000 and ordered to pay costs of £11,000.
Lainebridge Trading Limited pleaded guilty to one offence of managing the Victoria Hotel as an unlicensed HMO. It was fined £3,000 with costs of £2,000.
Councillor Gail Giles, cabinet member for licensing and statutory functions, said: “We are very pleased with this result which involved a great deal of work by our officers to bring this case to court.
“The council had tried very hard to work with the defendants for more than four years to get them to comply with the legislation but in the end we had to resort to court action in order to protect potentially vulnerable tenants.
“This case should send a strong message to HMO landlords about the importance of being licensed. Tenants should also ensure they only rent shared accommodation from landlords whose properties are licensed.”
