The City of York Council takes the safety of private rented tenants very seriously.  In most cases safety concerns are successfully addressed through informal means but  it is sometimes necessary to seek a prosecution in order to achieve compliance and uphold housing law. 

The following are examples of the successful prosecution of landlords by the Housing Standards and Adaptations Team:

Failure to licence an HMO:

On the 25th August 2011 at York Magistrates Court a landlord pleaded guilty to the offence of failing to licence a House in Multiple Occupation contrary to section 72 of the Housing Act 2004.

On the 20th October 2011 Magistrates fined the landlord £10,000, ordered him to pay the council £1,216.50 in costs plus a victim surcharge of £15 .  For more information regarding the investigation and subsequent prosecution please see the Evening Press article.

Failure to licence an HMO: breach of a Prohibition Order and failure to maintain a safe and effective fire alarm system

On the 23 September 2010 at York Magistrates Court a landlord pleaded guilty to the following offences: Failure to licence a House in Multiple Occupation; failing to maintain a safe and effective fire alarm system and breaching a Prohibition Order.   

Magistrates fined the landlord a total of £2000 and ordered him to pay the council £1000 in costs.  For more information regarding the investigation and subsequent prosecution please see the Evening Press article.

Breaches of Management Regulations x 4

On the 12th November 2009 at York Magistrates Court a landlord pleaded guilty to four counts of breaching the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006, including failing to ensure that fire fighting equipment and alarms were maintained in good working order.  The Landlord was fined £1000 and ordered to  pay legal costs of £766.52.  For more information regarding the investigation and subsequent prosecution please see the Evening Press article

Failure to comply with an Improvement Notice 

On the 9th January 2009 at York Magistrates Court a landlord pleaded guilty to the offence of failing to comply with an Improvement Notice contrary to section 30 of the Housing Act 2004.  The landlord was fined £300 and was ordered to pay legal costs of £165. For more information regarding the investigation and subsequent prosecution please see the Evening Press article.