LANDLORDS and associated managers who operated a house in multiple occupation without a licence have been given a bill totalling almost £20,000 after Barnsley Council secured a conviction against them.
Owner Hassan Fahri, of Blackfen Road, Sidcup, pleaded guilty to three related offences regarding a property on Gold Street, Barnsley, which was lived in by several tenants.
One managing agent, Howard James Przadkiewicz, of Copster Close, pleaded guilty to the same three offences.
The second managing agent, Danny Shirt, of Columbia Street, admitted breaching HMO regulations and failing to provide documents.
They appeared at Barnsley Magistrates’ Court last Thursday, where they also admitted failing to put right ‘hazardous conditions’ found inside the house.
Prosecutors said a licence was not in place between September 1 and September 9 last year and subsequently ordered Fahri to prove otherwise by the end of the month.
A HMO is classed as a property if multiple tenants share a bathroom or kitchen and was previously an ‘ordinary’ home which had been split into bedsits.
He failed to provide documentation and follow-up visits to the property uncovered safety concerns, which subsequently saw a put-right notice issued due to so-called ‘category one hazards’ the most serious being found.
Fahri, 56 who also failed to complete the work within a specified timeframe was fined £5,120, told to pay a surcharge of £2,000 and £2,337 in court costs, totalling £9,457.
Przadkiewicz, 36, of Copster Close, was ordered to pay a total of £6,069, made up of a £2,666 fine, £1,066 surcharge and 2,377.50 in costs.
Shirt, 32, will pay a total of £2,077, made up of a £769 fine, £308 victim surcharge, and £1,000 in costs.
Enforcement bosses warned even larger fines up to £30,000 in worst-case situations can be issued to those caught flouting strict regulations with HMOs.
Coun Wendy Cain, cabinet spokesperson for public health and communities, said: “This is a positive result for our team who do fantastic work to make sure the regulations that help to keep tenants safe are upheld across our borough.
“The licensing of HMOs means we’re able to make sure conditions in rented properties are safe, and take action where standards are not met.
“Failing to license an HMO can put tenants at risk, and our team are working hard to hold landlords who do so accountable.”
As of June, 188 HMOs had been licensed across the borough, managed by companies nationwide including from London, Nottingham and Gloucester.
The Central ward where Gold Street is situation has been most affected by this growing market, with 133 properties taken up, notably with 11 on Dodworth Road, ten on Doncaster Road and seven on Caxton Street.
Coun Robin Franklin, cabinet spokesperson for regeneration and culture, added: “Since 2021, as a result of bringing in a borough-wide ‘Article 4 Direction’, every potential HMO now requires planning permission and consideration against the policies contained within our local plan.
“If residents have any concerns or would like to report any cases to us, they can do so on our website or by calling 01226 773555.”
