Landlords fined for not having licences

Landlords in the Griffin area are being urged to make sure they’ve signed up to the selective licensing scheme after a number of prosecutions have taken place.

Landlords risk heavy fines for not submitting full applications for licences under the Council scheme that is intended to make sure privately rented properties are well managed.

The initiative sees licences issued for up to five years to those who meet a number of criteria including carrying out annual gas safety checks and an electrical safety check, providing energy performance certificates, fitting and maintaining smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and providing occupants with a written tenancy agreement.

Landlords operating without a licence risk prosecution and could receive an unlimited fine.

They may also have to hand back rent from the last twelve months, to tenants or to the Council if tenants are receiving housing benefit.

There are currently two selective licensing schemes in the borough, in Mill Hill and Griffin.

They were introduced after extensive consultation with local residents and are intended to ensure privately rented properties are well managed.

Executive member for Neighbourhood and Prevention Services, Councillor Arshid Mahmood, said: “Our vision is to build safer and stronger communities and improve people’s health and wellbeing and we believe Selective Licensing can help us to achieve that.
“I would urge landlords who are letting properties within the Selective Licensing Areas to ensure they have submitted full applications to avoid being prosecuted.”

Latest prosecutions :

• Mustak Ali Ugrader, 49 of Brookhouse Gardens, Blackburn, has to pay £1159 including a victim surcharge and £400 costs for not having a licence for 14 Norman St, Blackburn.
• Jason Parkington, 25, of Redlam, Blackburn, has to pay £1234 including a victim surcharge and costs of £508 as the landlord of Flat over 3 New Chapel Street, Blackburn, for which he didn’t have a licence.
• Paul Andrew Booth, 47,of Pinewood, Blackburn, and Marc Ashley Booth, 41, of Beechwood Drive, Feniscowles, Blackburn, were both ordered to pay a fine for not having a licence for 8 St James Street, Blackburn. Paul Booth was ordered to pay £921 including £671 costs and a victim surcharge and Marc Booth was to pay £140 including a victim surcharge.
• Jonathan Young, 46,  of Bosburn Drive, Mellor Brook, was ordered to pay £950 including £400 costs and a victim surcharge for not having a licence for 17 Herschell Street, Blackburn.
• Jason Johanson, 33, of Mill Hill Street, Blackburn, was ordered to pay £785 of which £400 were costs and a £35 victim surcharge for not having a licence for 22 St George’s Avenue, Blackburn.

For more information contact the Housing Standards Team on 01254 585457 or visit http://www.blackburn.gov.uk/Pages/Selective-licensing.aspx