West Country landlord fined for renting out unsafe and unlicensed HMO
South Gloucestershire Council launched an investigation into the property last year
A landlord from Filton has been fined after it was found he was renting out an 'unsafe and unlicensed' house in multiple occupation - otherwise known as a HMO.
He's been handed the £3,800 penalty following an investigation by the Private Sector Housing Team at South Gloucestershire Council.
They launched a Civil Penalty Notice against the landlord after they discovered a number of HMO offences at the two-storey terraced property in Filton, which was at the time home to five people.
Back in June 2023, a tenant of the property complained to the council that the landlord wasn't completing repairs to the property - after an e-bike fire there.
It was also reported that the property was occupied by five people as a HMO although no HMO licence had been applied for.
After an inspection, it was found there was a number of 'potentially dangerous defects' inside the property, with fire and smoke damage evident in the kitchen area - where the e-bike fire happened.
Nobody was injured in the incident.
Following an assessment, a Civil Penalty Notice including a financial penalty of £3,883 was then progressed by the Private Sector Housing team for failure to licence the HMO in accordance with the Housing Act 2004.
Councillor Sean Rhodes, cabinet member with responsibility for environmental health at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “I’m pleased to see this penalty and fine issued to the landlord, who showed no regard for the safety of the people who rented this property.
“The licensing of HMOs enables the council to check conditions and take action where housing and management standards are not met. In addition, checks are made to ensure licence holders and people involved in the management of the properties are fit and proper to do so. Failing to licence a property as in this case, can put the health and safety of tenants at risk.
“Where we identify unlicensed HMOs our Private Sector Housing Team will look to prosecute or use Civil Penalties against the owners or managers. Our message to the landlords of HMOs is simple; licence your properties before we find them.”
You can find out more about e-bike and e-scooter charging on the GOV.UK website.
South Gloucestershire has approximately 740 licensed HMOs.
Any property that is occupied by five or more people in two or more households requires a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licence.
More information and advice on the licencing requirements and how to apply can be found by visiting the South Gloucestershire Council website.