Landlords are taking advantage of Oxford’s housing shortage to rent out badly maintained HMOs, according to the city council.    

It follows the case of a landlord who was fined £23,138 after failing to license a rented property and non-compliance with a Prohibition Order at his rental property.

Alan Hudson, of 8 Fletcher Road, Oxford, was found guilty at Reading Magistrates’ Court of one count of failing to licence 33 Headley Way in Headington, and one count of failing to comply with a Prohibition Order. The order had been served at the house following an inspection by the city council’s residential regulation team who identified multiple hazards including issues of severe damp and mould (pictured above), electrical hazards, fire safety, excess cold and structural collapse within the property.

Badly

Oxford has both a city-wide additional and selective licensing scheme but councillor Mike Rowley, cabinet member for regulation of the private rented sector and preventing homelessness (pictured), says some landlords are taking advantage of the city’s housing shortage to rent out badly maintained properties to multiple occupants.  

“The message to landlords is clear, if you don’t meet your legal obligations to your tenants and keep your properties up to the required standard, then the city council will take action against you,” he adds.

“I am pleased by the substantial fine charged in this particular case as it serves as a deterrent to other landlords and reiterates that standards in the private rented sector in Oxford will be upheld.”  

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