Hastings Borough Council successfully prosecuted a landlord for failing to license a property under the selective licensing scheme for private rented homes.
Contrary to section 95(1) of the Housing Act 2004, Mr Dempsey of Malden Road, Surrey failed to license 156 Bohemia Road, St Leonards, East Sussex, TN37 6RP the property he let, between 26 October 2015 and 19th June 2017.
Cllr Andy Batsford, lead member for housing said, “Our selective licensing scheme is designed to promote good tenancy practice in the private rented sector and to to ensure that licenced properties have a positive impact on the area. We can protect tenants by improving living conditions, and landlord standards of management. We welcome the court’s decision which supports our work.”
This property falls within one of the seven wards in the borough that are required to be licensed under the council’s selective licencing scheme introduced in 2016.
Mr. Dempsey did not attend Hastings Magistrates Court on 11th August 2017 but was proven guilty in absence and fined £10,000 with £432 costs and a £170 victim surcharge.
For more information about the council’s selective licencing scheme visit: https://www.hastings.gov.uk/housing/improvement/selective_licensing_scheme/introduction/
