A Grantham-based landlord who knowingly rented a house to six people instead of five – the number legally allowed for the property – has been fined.
Housing inspectors first discovered that six people were living in the house in July 2014.
Though the sixth person left before September, a re-inspection in January 2015 confirmed that six occupants were once again residing in the property.
Sanjay Patel, who owns the multi-occupancy home, only had a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licence for five tenants, and by allowing one more person to rent he has been prosecuted by South Kesteven Council, under the Housing Act.
Magistrates decided that Mr Patel purposefully ignored his HMO licence rules in order to make a financial gain.
Mr Patel pleaded guilty to the charges at Grantham Magistrates’ Court and was given a fine of £6,300, which was reduced to £4,200 because his plea was made early, in addition to £1,454 costs and a £120 victim surcharge.
The total bill came to almost £6,000.
South Kesteven District Council’s business manager for environmental health, Anne-Marie Coulthard, said: “Landlords provide a good service for their tenants in South Kesteven and those who own homes where multiple tenants live are more than aware of their responsibilities to never overfill their properties.
“However this case shows that landlords cannot simply ignore orders to not overcrowd their properties and we are pleased magistrates saw it fit to impose this level of fine.
“Our officers will always determinedly ensure housing law is strictly adhered to in rented properties to protect tenants.”