Council secures £34k+ fine against one landlord for HMO licensing failure, defeats injunction bid by another over property inspection

Somerset Council has successfully prosecuted a Taunton landlord for breaching housing laws, with the defendant pleading guilty and being ordered to pay a fine of £34,640.

The local authority said the landlord concerned had routinely failed to licence eight properties in the Taunton area.

The local authority also revealed that the court recently threw out a case where a landlord tried to serve an injunction on the former Somerset West and Taunton District Council (SWT) to prevent the authority undertaking its statutory duty to inspect a Taunton property.

The council served enforcement notices on the landlord’s property which ordered them to make improvements as they were in breach of the Housing Act 2004.

The landlord consequently tried to serve the injunction which the court did not support and was ordered to pay the council £6,000.

Kim Lewington, Somerset's Private Sector Housing & Environment Protection Manager, said: “We work closely with Somerset landlords and support them to meet their legal obligations.

“However, we will not shy away from taking strong enforcement action and applying sanctions where they are needed.

“The council is satisfied with the outcome of these court cases and hopes it sends a strong message to deter other landlords from breaching their duties.”