Harjeet Johal, 25, of Coventry, admitted failing to obtain a HMO licence for a house shared by five tenants in Highfields, Leicester.
He was fined £5,000 for failing to obtain the licence and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £1,277.30 and a victim surcharge of £120, by Leicester magistrates.
The court was told the annual rent for the property was more than £17,000.
Councillor Sarah Russell, assistant city mayor for neighbourhood services, said: "Licences for HMOs are there to protect tenants' rights and to ensure the properties meet certain minimum requirements."
Landlord repays £20,000 in rents
A landlord living in London but owning rental properties in Salford was ordered to repay £19,958 in housing benefit paid to cover rents to tenants after failing to join an HMO licensing scheme in Salford, Greater Manchester.
The order by a residential property tribunal covered five rental properties in the city owned by Dean Weinberg of Barnet, London.
In May 2012, Weinberg was fined £3996 at Manchester Magistrates Court for failing to licence the properties. He was also ordered to pay costs of £1500.
Deposit protection penalty
Landlord Andrew Meehan must pay his tenants Ross Fraser and Alison Pease £3,450 after failing to protect their deposit of £1,150.
Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard the landlord had failed to pay the cash into a fund set up to protect tenants.
The claim for compensation was made after the couple left the flat and is believed to be one of the first awards under new laws that came into force in April 2012.
Badly managed HMO landlords fined
TWO landlords were convicted of failing to properly manage an HMO following a two-day trial at Hastings Magistrates Court.
Dr Dilip Wilson, of London, pleaded not guilty, but was convicted of five offences of breaching HMO rules at the home in St Andrew’s Square, Hastings.
Norman Rushbrook, of Options Property Management, Hastings, also pleaded not guilty but was also convicted on all five charges.
Wilson was fined £2,500, with a £15 victim surcharge and ordered to pay £1,000 costs. Rushbrook was fined £1,500, with a £15 victim surcharge and also ordered to pay £1,000 costs.
Landlord faces jail for harassing tenant
Landlord Nilendu Das could face jail for harassing tenant Jennifer Okojie for unpaid rent by Sheffield magistrates.
The court heard that Das moved five tenants, including Okojie, to live in a squalid HMO in the city while claiming housing benefits for them.
The house had mould growing on walls, a broken back door, no insulation and no handrails on the stairs, the court heard.
Das wrote a clause into the tenancy agreement saying he would charge them £350 if they complained about him or the property.
Das admitted 11 offences relating to management of two rental properties and harassing Okojie, 25, who complained to the council. Das bombarded her with texts asking for money after she made the complaint.
She told the court the house was in a disgusting state and rain poured through the roof in bad weather.
The case was adjourned pending reports. Das already has a suspended sentence for harassing Ojolie from a previous hearing.
