Landlord couple banned for nine years from renting homes

A landlord couple have been banned from renting property after their legal appeal was rejected.

Somerset Council handed the bans to David and Joanna Fuller, of The Old Court House, Yeovil, for repeated prosecutions of housing standards breaches and repeated failures to comply with enforcement notices.

In May, the First Tier Property Tribunal made a banning order against David Fuller for six years and against Joanna Fuller for three years.

Now their application to appeal the banning orders, and permission to appeal further, has been refused as having no reasonable prospect of success. The couple manage some 180 properties in and around Yeovil (main image).

The orders prevent the pair from renting, managing or having any involvement with the properties that they own from 1st September. They cannot employ any business or person associated with them to run these properties or take rent directly from tenants.

This is not the first time David Fuller has been in trouble with the council. In 2014 he was banned from entering the council's headquarters after being accused of intimidating staff, and before that had received a public order convition for erecting an offensive sign aimed at a council officer he was in dispute with.

Sanctions

Chris Hall (pictured), executive director community, place and economy, says the council works closely with Somerset landlords and supports them to meet their legal obligations.

However, he adds: “We will not shy away from taking strong enforcement action and applying sanctions where they are needed. The council is satisfied with the outcome of these court cases and hopes it sends a strong message to deter other landlords from breaching their duties.

“The council’s private sector housing team is working hard every day to ensure residents live in homes that are safe, healthy and appropriate for their needs.”