Student landlords fined for breaking HMO rules

Student landlords are urged to license their homes to rent or face prosecution in a crackdown by Liverpool City Council. Two landlords have faced Liverpool magistrates after complaints from students about the standards of their homes. Louis Silverbeck, 68, of Queens Drive, Liverpool admitting running student shared house without a licence. He was fined £1,500 and ordered to pay £2,300 costs. The property, in Rutland Avenue housed six students paying £277 a month rent each. In a separate case, Anthony Mould, 48, of Kings Norton, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to running an unlicensed HMO and two breaches of HMO management rules. He was fined £950 and ordered to pay £2,000 costs. Flouted fire safety A council team visited the home in Jubilee Drive after a complaint from a tenant. Six students were living in the property, paying £258 a month rent each. A ceiling in the basement and a staircase were in poor condition and flouted fire safety rules. In defence, Mould told the court that he bought the house as his son intended to study at Liverpool University, but he changed his mind and went to Southampton instead. The landlord explained he rented out the home as he could not sell the property without incurring mortgage repayment penalties. Councillor Ann O’Byrne, cabinet member for housing said: “This city has a high student population. Many are away from home for the first time and are vulnerable to exploitation. “Statistics show that you are 16 times more likely to die in a fire in an HMO than you are in a single family dwelling. We are determined to ensure that these young people are kept safe so that they can further their education and experience our great city”

Landlord blog

Sam Dickinson

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