A council has issued a press release to say that a trio of prosecutions on private landlords combine to prove it is “coming down hard” on rogue operators in the lettings sector.
Woking council says it is “determined to rid the borough of substandard living conditions” and has highlighted three forthcoming prosecutions it is initiating against three landlords in its area.
The cases all involve alleged offences under the 2004 Housing Act and range from claims of operating an unlicensed house in multiple occupation, failing to comply with an Improvement Notice, failing to comply with the requirements of a Prohibition Order, and failing to manage a House in Multiple Occupation.
The council says the majority of these offences carry unlimited fines and apply to inadequate fire safety protection, poor electrical safety, disrepair, and failing to provide gas and electrical certificates as required by the law.
“I hope news of this court action sends a very clear message to private landlords, that we will not tolerate poor standards or blatant disregard for tenants safety. Where we find evidence of this, we will build a case and will seek to prosecute” says a council spokesman.
Woking is introducing an accreditation licensing scheme shortly, in partnership with the National Landlord Association.