Letting agent fined£9,000 for breaching occupancy rules
News Category: Industry News
Published: 08-Oct-2009
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A letting agent in Yorkshire has been fined £9,000 after he breached House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) legislation by not obtaining a licence for two of his properties.
James Poskitt, 57, of the Surelet letting agency in Goole, was fined after the East Riding of Yorkshire Council discovered that, despite him not having the correct HMO licence, two of his properties were occupied by unrelated individuals.
Councillor Jane Evison, who is responsible for housing and public protection, said: "Tenants of houses in multiple occupation are exposed to a greater risk from hazards such as fire, and the mandatory licensing scheme has been introduced nationally to improve management and standards."
Mandatory HMO licensing came into force in England in April 2006 and gave local authorities greater powers to impose their own licensing conditions.
Mr Poskitt also attempted to prevent council officers from entering one of the properties, despite the fact they had a warrant.
He also tried to stop them from speaking to the property tenants on a second occasion.
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