The Selective Licensing team at East Staffordshire Borough Council have successfully won an appeal to enforce a Financial Penalty Notice that was served on a Landlord who let out a privately rented property on Queen Street, Burton without a licence in place.
Queen Street falls within a designated Selective Licensing area but the Landlord failed to apply for a licence.
A Financial Penalty to the value of £3,673.00 was served on the Landlord in July 2023 because the Landlord failed to submit an application, despite numerous warnings by the Selective Licensing Team.
The Selective Licensing scheme came into effect on 12th September 2022, which aims to improve private rented properties and the health of tenants by ensuring that all properties within the designated area are managed to a satisfactory standard and are safe and free from serious hazards prior to a licence being granted.
The following streets have been designated:
• Blackpool Street
• Branston Road
• Broadway Street
• Goodman Street
• King Street
• Queen Street
• Shobnall Street
• Uxbridge Street
• Waterloo Street
It is a criminal offence to let a privately rented property in a designated area without a Selective Licence in place. Penalties include prosecution and an unlimited fine or a financial penalty up to £30,000.
A total of 9 financial penalties have been served on rogue landlords totalling over £22,000 since the start of the current selective licensing scheme.
Cllr Simon Slater, Cabinet Member for Communities and Regulatory Services, said: “This case should act as a warning to landlords that have properties within the selective licensing area. Failure to comply with the scheme will not be tolerated and may result in enforcement action being taken against you. This is a warning to landlords that they must ensure they have a selective licence for their properties”.
If you are aware of a property in one of these streets that is unlicensed or you have concerns about the standard of your accommodation please contact the selective licensing on 01283 508578 or email selectivelicensing@eaststaffsbc.gov.uk
Further information about Selective Licensing can be found using the Council’s website.