A Durham landlord has been prosecuted after failing to obtain the appropriate licences for two houses she rented out to students.
Lisa Chatfield, 38, of Greystoke Gardens in Newcastle pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a condition of her licence for a property at St Margarets Garth in Durham.
Durham City Council said that Chatfield had previously obtained a House of Multiple Occupancy (HMO) licence in respect of the property, which stated it could hold five occupants at any one time. However, a routine inspection in July 2014 found that two additional basement bedrooms had been constructed to increase the occupation to seven people.
She was then advised to seek a variation of her licence, but further investigations by the council found that, from 1 July 2016, seven separate people signed up to live in the property – despite a licence change never being received.
By this time, the original licence had also expired and not been renewed, which Chatfield was also prosecuted for.
She also pleaded guilty to failing to obtain a HMO licence for another property she owned at Nevilledale Terrace in Durham – although she had previously obtained a HMO licence for the property, this had expired on 6 April 2016 and a full inspection of the property on 17 November that year confirmed it was required to be licensed from that date.
Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court heard that the safety of the tenants had not been jeopardised and that Chatfield would now be employing a manager to deal with the day-to-day running of the properties.
She was ordered to pay a fine of £2,583, costs of £3,057.47 and a victim surcharge of £86 – a total of £5,726.47, to be paid at a rate of £200 per month.
Durham County Council's environment protection manager, Gary Hutchinson, said:
“We take our duty to regulate houses of multiple occupancy very seriously – and this case should act as a warning to all landlords to ensure they obtain the correct licences.
“Although we know most landlords take their responsibility seriously, having a licence acts as proof of the quality of accommodation being provided – and ensures tenants can live in decent and safe homes.”
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