Unlicensed landlords face fines

OLDHAM Council has prosecuted another three landlords - and warned others to get licensed.

They were fined for failing to sign up to the Selective Licensing scheme - the local authority's initiative to improve management of properties, flush out rogue landlords and irresponsible tenants.

The council is warning private landlords that they too could end up in the dock if they fail to obtain licences for the properties they rent out.

It's a criminal offence to operate a privately rented property without a licence in St Mary's; Hathershaw; Waterhead; Hollinwood; Primrose Bank and selected areas of Coldhurst, Alexandra and Oldham Edge.

A landlord will also commit a criminal offence if they fail to comply with any of the conditions of a licence granted to them.

The scheme has proved controversial after some landlords protested against the £490 per rented property fee and argued that more should be done to protect them from nuisance tenants who don't pay rent on time.

A petition signed by 150 landlords was handed to the council but the authority insists the scheme helps to improve property management and tenant behaviour.

The first three landlords to be prosecuted were fined in May and last month magistrates sitting in Oldham ordered another three to pay a total of £3,372 in fines, costs and victim surcharges after they continued to rent out properties without licences.

Each one had ignored letters from the council informing them that they needed to sign up.

Rehana Aziz, of Darwin Street, Oldham, was fined £250 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £22 and £500 costs. Rafit Hussain, of Waterloo Street, Oldham, was fined £500 and ordered to pay costs of £750 and a victim surcharge of £50. Kamal Ahmed, of Waterloo Street, Oldham, was fined £500 and ordered to pay costs of £750 and a victim surcharge of £50.

Councillor Barbara Brownridge, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and co-operatives, said: "The majority of private landlords in the areas where licensing is in force are supportive of this scheme because they, like us, know the rented sector in Oldham needs to improve.

"But we are still coming across a small number who think the law doesn't apply to them. These latest prosecutions show that we will take action against landlords who flout the law.

"Some of the properties our officers have visited fail to meet the required homes standard, which can have a terrible impact on the health and welfare of tenants and the wider community.

"This scheme aims to make private landlords meet satisfactory standards of tenancy and property management.

"But it is also about tenants acting responsibly in a way that does not blight their neighbourhood and showing respect for their neighbours."

The Housing Act 2004 gives councils the power to introduce the licensing of private rented homes.