Landlord prosecuted over lack of licence

Published 14th April 2014

A landlord based in London has been prosecuted for failing to obtain a selective licence prior to renting out a flat in Cliftonville, Margate.

Sean Powell, of Cleveland Gardens, Bayswater, London, did not make an application to the council for a licence to rent out a flat he owned in the town’s Gordon Road. According to Thanet Council, certain parts of Cliftonville West and Margate Central were designated as a ‘selective licensing area’ in 2011, in a bid to clamp down on anti-social behaviour and low housing demand in the areas.

This means that all privately rented properties that are located within the areas must be licensed with the council before tenants are found, unless subject to a particular exemption.

Mr Powell pleaded guilty to failing to obtain a licence at Canterbury Magistrates court and was ordered to pay a fine of £12,000 plus a £1,200 victim surcharge and £120 costs.

Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr. David Green, told the Thanet Gazette: “Many privately-rented properties in Cliftonville are linked to bad management and anti-social behaviour. This is why we introduced selective licensing, as it helps us to ensure that tenants are kept safe and neighbourhoods are not blighted by problem properties.

“The council’s Housing Regeneration Team will always try to help landlords through the licensing process, but those who deliberately flout the law will be prosecuted. We take this very seriously and have a duty to the good landlords working in the area to tackle the rogues.”

Since the prosecution, Mr Powell has made an application to licence his property.

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