Couple fined over £6,000 for renting house out without appropriate licence

A couple from Rochdale have been fined over £6,000 for failing to comply with Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) regulations.

They were prosecuted for renting a house without the appropriate licence.

The court heard that Mr Liquiat Shah and his wife Mrs Parveen Bushra of Chamber House Drive, Rochdale, had continued to operate an unlicensed licensable HMO at 146 Vine Place, Rochdale.

The case was brought after officers from Rochdale Borough Council made numerous attempts to encourage them to comply with the requirements of the Housing Act 2004 and license the premises. The Council was represented by their Legal and Democratic Service.

The requirement to licence multi occupied premises ensures that the property is properly managed, is not overcrowded and is safe to occupy.

Mr Shah said in mitigation that he did not think that it was his responsibility to ensure the property was not being used as a HMO.

Each defendant was ordered to pay a fine of £3,000, plus half the costs each (£458) and a victim surcharge of £15 each. A total payable of £3,473 each.

Councillor Linda Robinson, Cabinet Member for Adult Care, Health and Housing said: “First and foremost the licensing scheme is there to protect tenants.

“We will work with new landlords who are not aware of the law but we will prosecute those whose properties are dangerous or who might think that they can wait for the council to find them before applying to be licensed.”