This article is an external press release originally published on the Landlord News website, which has now been migrated to the Just Landlords blog.
Two managing agents in Hatfield are seriously out of pocket this morning after being order to pay a combined £42,534 in fines, following being found guilty of 46 offences.
Fines
Odus Ltd admitted liability for 41 regulation offences at St Albans Magistrates’ Court. These breaches of legislation related to fire safety and disrepair features on four properties. The company was fined £17,600 with Welwyn Borough Council being awarded £17,424 in costs.[1]
The second management agent to be fined was XS Property Management and Maintenance, who admitted five offences. These included failure to licence a HMO and disregard to fire safety measures. In this case, the agent was fined £4,300, with the council being given £3,210.12 in cost payments.[1]
This was the first time that Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council has ever prosecuted a number of managing agents, part of their ongoing crackdown on poor management procedures.
Two managing agents fined heavily
Signal
Councillor Mandy Perkins, executive member for planning, housing and community, commented, ‘we are very pleased with this outcome; it is proof that we will not tolerate managing agents in our borough who compromise the safety of their tenants, particularly relating to fire safety issues.’ She went on to say that, ‘we hugely value the contribution that good quality rented accommodation makes to the local housing market, but we hope this sends a clear signal to managing agents that they must comply with the law.’[1]
‘I would urge residents to protect themselves by checking their managing agent or landlord is PAL accredited. This is a council-run scheme, which strives to ensure that accredited managing agents meet their legal obligations,’ Perkins added.[1]
[1] https://www.landlordtoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2015/6/hertfordshire-agents-must-pay-over-40k-in-fines
