Shazad Qayyum, a landlord in Stockton, has been ordered to pay a total of £2,450 after failing to obtain a licence for a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO).
Teesside Magistrates’ Court heard that local council officers inspected a property let out by Mr Qayyum in January and February 2014, following a complaint from a member of the public.
After officers established that the property required a HMO licence, they provided Mr Qayyum with the relevant application form.
However, the landlord failed to submit the application.
The council was then forced to take legal action because the landlord continued to let out the property on the same terms, and to the same number of tenants, as highlighted by their initial inspections.
Mr Qayyum, who was not present at the hearing, was found to have breached Section 72 of the Housing Act 2004.
He was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay the council’s £1,350 costs, as well as a victim surcharge of £100.
Councillor Steve Nelson, Stockton Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Community Safety, said: “HMOs provide homes for some of the most vulnerable members of our society and it is often where some of the greatest risks in terms of poor standards of housing management, disrepair and fire safety can be found.
“We have a duty to protect the health and safety of private tenants and where conditions are not met and landlords fail to engage with us, we will take action through the courts.
“We hope this case will send a clear message to private landlords that they have a responsibility to apply for the relevant licences and to ensure their properties meet the necessary standards. Failure to do so will not be tolerated.”