The Selective Licensing Team at East Staffordshire Borough Council have successfully won another appeal to enforce two Financial Penalty Notices that were served on the same Landlord who let out a privately rented property, which was split into two flats on Waterloo Street, Burton, without a licence in place.
Waterloo Street falls within a designated Selective Licensing area but the Landlord failed to apply for a licence for each flat.
Financial Penalties to the total value of £7,752.00 was served on the Landlord in August 2023 and again in September 2023 because the Landlord failed to submit an application, despite numerous warnings by the Selective Licensing Team.
The Selective Licensing Scheme came into effect on 12th September 2022 and aims to improve private rented properties and the health of tenants by ensuring that all properties within the designated area are managed to a satisfactory standard and are safe and free from serious hazards prior to a licence being granted.
The following streets have been designated:
• Blackpool Street
• Branston Road
• Broadway Street
• Goodman Street
• King Street
• Queen Street
• Shobnall Street
• Uxbridge Street
• Waterloo Street
It is a criminal offence to let a privately rented property in a designated area without a Selective Licence in place. Penalties include prosecution and an unlimited fine or a financial penalty up to £30,000.
A total of 13 financial penalties have been served on rogue landlords totalling over £37,000 since the start of the current selective licensing scheme.
Cllr Simon Slater, Cabinet Member for Communities and Regulatory Services, said: “I would encourage any landlord that has not complied with the scheme to submit an application without delay. Failure to comply with the scheme will not be tolerated and enforcement will be considered for any landlord that consistently fails to comply with the requirements of the Selective Licensing Scheme”.
If you are aware of a property in one of these streets that is unlicensed or you have concerns about the standard of your accommodation please contact the selective licensing on 01283 508578 or email selectivelicensing@eaststaffsbc.gov.uk
Further information about Selective Licensing can be found using the Council’s website.