A landlord in St Helens has been fined £35,000 after failing to license a property let out to multiple tenants, following enforcement action by St Helens Borough Council.
The property, home to five people, was being run as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) without the licence required by law.
Council officers from the Housing Standards team say they repeatedly urged the landlord to apply for a licence and fix management problems at the property, but the landlord did not respond.
Using powers under the Housing Act 2004, the council issued civil penalty notices totalling £35,000 – £10,000 for running an unlicensed HMO and £25,000 for breaching HMO management rules.
Properties housing five or more people from separate households must be licensed under current legislation. The landlord now has 28 days to appeal, which would pause the penalties pending a tribunal decision.
Deputy council leader Sharon Roughley said the landlord had been given every opportunity to apply for the statutory licence but failed to do so, adding that most landlords meet their obligations but the council would act firmly where standards fall short.
The case comes as the council rolls out new housing enforcement policies and consults on requiring planning permission for small HMO conversions.
