-
14/7/25 8:13 pm
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
A rogue landlord who has a history of housing breaches has been handed a modest £1,963 fine after failing to license seven HMOs.
Vincent Ward also faced 15 offences relating to management regulations. Failings included not providing information to tenants, not taking safety measures such as maintaining a fire door or maintaining the first-floor kitchen ceiling and corridor walls, creating safety and maintenance concerns.
Although Coventry Council says it is satisfied with the overall outcome, it is disappointed with the fines imposed by magistrates, given the severity of the offences. Failing to get a necessary HMO licence can result in an unlimited fine, a civil penalty of up to £30,000, or both.
It explains that Ward, who still operates HMOs and has owned properties since 1990, has previously been handed a "significant penalty" for failing to license and management regulation breaches in other HMOs.
Councillor Abdul Salam Khan, cabinet member for policing and equalities (pictured), says its HMO enforcement team are there to support tenants and work with landlords to raise and monitor housing standards in HMOs.
“Landlords have important legal responsibilities that they must meet,” he adds. “Our enforcement officers will work with them, but those landlords, who fail to comply with their legal duties to licence HMOs and manage and maintain this type of house, will face enforcement action.”
Coventry has an additional licensing scheme, as well as its mandatory HMO licensing, which launched in May. The council also offers a voluntary, free Coventry Landlord Accreditation Scheme for landlords and letting agents which offers free housing training and cheaper licence fees.
Tags:
Comments