Research from Zoopla shows that by the end of 2021, 1/16 homes will have been sold, making it the busiest property market in 14 years. As the industry is recovering from the 2020 pandemic, the market demand is also boosting the rate of annual house price growth now at 6.9% – up from 3.5% in Oct 2020.
However, with new licensing schemes and consultations being introduced on average every 8 days in the country, and many more to come in 2022, it is important that agents take action to protect themselves against fines of non compliance. This month we have summarised some of the top rogue landlords and agents including a letting agent and its director that were fined over £80,000 in St Albans.
At Kamma, we understand that property licensing is complex, inconsistent, and ever changing. Our technology and software cuts through that complexity to keep you on top of all the changes with clear and accurate advice. We analyse and sort data to help agents, landlords and surveyors understand the impact of Property Licensing and Planning Permission on their properties and assets. We leverage technology and data to help agents and landlords stay on top of new property licensing schemes and avoid licensing fines.
Contact us or book a demo now to understand how Kamma can solve property licensing for you.
A Preston HMO landlord has been fined £24,000 and is faced with a Rent Repayment Order of £47,000. Preston City Council’s housing standards team responded to a tenant complaint about the living conditions of a student accommodation, and as a result the landlord was served an Improvements Notice. It was also found that the landlord did not obtain the correct HMO licence and was asked to apply for one.
Yet, after numerous attempts to work with the landlord to improve the flat, the decision was to refuse his late HMO application, as he was rendered unfit to run an HMO. He was later fined, but kept fighting the decision with appeal after appeal. However, the appeals have all been dismissed and he is now being forced to pay the fine, the RROs, and has been prevented from operating any licensed HMO properties in Preston.
A letting agency and its director has been fined more than a total of £80,000 for serious breaches of HMO legislation between 2015 and 2017. The director and his company managed three properties without the proper HMO licence and failed to comply with safety regulations.
The court found that the safety of the tenants was compromised due to the absence of the correct fire doors and other standards designed to protect them. The letting agency was fined over £65,000 and the director almost £15,000. He has since submitted an appeal, which the court has dismissed.
A landlord in Newport has been fined thousands of pounds for a series of offences relating to the management of an HMO property in Newport. The property was found to be used without the necessary HMO licence and was found to be in breach of several fire safety regulations including fire safety doors.
During the trial the landlord pleaded not guilty to all six offences, however, this November the Court found him guilty on all counts and he was faced with a fine of almost £5,000.
At Kamma we know how important it is for you to have the most up to date information at your fingertips. This report will cut through the noise and give you the most recent regulatory changes. Each month, we give you a full rundown of the latest scheme announcements and property licensing news in the […]
Read moreFines for agents and landlords in Greater London have totalled more than £1.5 million in the last 12 months, as part of a wider pattern of increased enforcement of complex Private Rented Sector regulations. With increasing headlines on the subject of Rent Repayment Orders, a heavier focus on Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards, and with more […]
Read moreTotal fines for letting agents and landlords in the Greater London area have increased from £6,502,932 in August 2021 to £8,010,344 at the start of this month Around 20% of all fines have been recorded in the last 12 months, suggesting a major post-pandemic increase in enforcement from London’s Local Authorities Rent Repayment Orders, an […]
Read moreRegular news, information and insights from Kamma. No spam. Unsubscribe at any time.
Subscribing ...
Sorry, we really want to but we couldn't subscribe you due to missing or incorrect information; please update the information that's highlighted in red and try again.
Well this is awkward. Something went wrong on the internet between your browser and our newletter subscription service. Please let us know and we'll do our best to fix it for you.
Thanks for subscribing! Check your Inbox in a short while for a confirmation email to check it was really you that just subscribed. If you've already subscribed, we'll keep your subscription but you won't receive a confirmation email this time.