Estate agent fined heavily over house licence - The Rugby Observer

Estate agent fined heavily over house licence

Rugby Editorial 23rd Jul, 2014 Updated: 27th Oct, 2016   0

AN ESTATE agent who rented out a house without the necessary licence has been fined £6,650.

Brian Williams was renting out the five-bedroomed house on Cambridge Street to nine tenants without a house in multiple occupation (HMO) licence, despite officers first informing him of the regulations for HMOs following an inspection in December 2010.

During a hearing at Nuneaton Magistrates’ Court on Monday it was said Mr Williams was receiving more than £2,000 a month in rent from the property when officers carried out the inspection.

The court was also told Mr Williams rented out seven properties in Rugby – though the house in Cambridge Street was currently empty while repair work was carried out.




The 38-year-old, of Bronze Road in Cawston, pleaded guilty to renting out an HMO without a licence and two breaches of the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation Regulations 2006.

His defence told magistrates Mr Williams was aware of the HMO regulations and had licences for two of the properties he rented out.


But he said Mr Williams’ brother persuaded him to allow three extra tenants to move into a room for a month – bringing the total number of tenants to nine.

However, an HMO requires a licence when five or more tenants, comprising two or more households, live in a property with three storeys or more – meaning Mr Williams’ property required a licence before the extra tenants moved in.

He was also ordered to pay £863 costs and a £120 victim surcharge.

Rugby Borough Council communities spokeswoman Coun Leigh Hunt said: “The council has no hesitation in enforcing HMO regulations to protect the health and safety of tenants.”

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