Cambridge Property Agent Prosecuted For Housing Management Regulation Offences

A CAMBRIDGE-BASED property agent, ESRA Property Services Ltd, has been successfully prosecuted by Cambridge City Council for a number of offences under the Housing Act 2004.

A CAMBRIDGE-BASED property agent, ESRA Property Services Ltd, has been successfully prosecuted by Cambridge City Council for a number of offences under the Housing Act 2004.

The prosecution at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court on 26 January was brought following identification of 11 offences of failing to comply with the House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) management regulations for a property on Derwent Close that ESRA were managing on behalf of the owner.

A guilty plea submitted to the court by post from one of the directors was accepted as a guilty plea from the company. The company was fined a total of £16,000 with regards to these offences, with an additional £1,427 costs.

The prosecution followed an investigation by the council’s Environmental Services team. The investigation uncovered multiple management failings including that of failing to take safety measures to protect occupiers from injury in the event of fire.

This is the tenth housing related prosecution taken by the council in the last three years, with fines and costs totalling £118,000 having been paid by those found guilty of offences.

Cllr Kevin Price, Executive Councillor for Housing, said: “The majority of the city’s landlords are responsible and provide high quality and safe accommodation. Unfortunately, not all landlords follow their example and the accommodation they provide is unsafe and of poor quality. We take such issues very seriously and will pursue enforcement action where necessary against those landlords and agents who do not comply with the law.”

Following this further successful prosecution and the government’s announcement to extend mandatory licensing of HMOs, the council has announced its intention to continue running the Landlord Amnesty started in November 2016. The amnesty will allow the council to focus their resources on those landlords who continue to deliberately avoid them while working more informally with those who come forward.

Currently the Housing Act 2004 requires all HMOs that are three or more storeys high with five or more occupiers to be licensed. The licence has conditions which must be complied with to ensure that the property is managed and occupied safely.

The amnesty, which now runs until 28 February, will allow landlords who own licensable properties within the city to be able to apply for a licence without the threat of prosecution and associated financial penalties for not holding a licence.

If you wish to discuss HMO licensing, the HMO amnesty or would like to report a property you have concerns over, please contact the Residential Team on 01223 458050 or email: residential.eh@cambridge.gov.uk.