COUNCIL PROSECUTES THREE LOCAL LANDLORDS

Rushcliffe Borough Council has thrown the book at three negligent landlords who let their tenants freeze while they collected the rent. Rushcliffe successfully prosecuted the three owners at the magistrates’ court on Monday 15th February.
Kevin Cassells, Anthony Lincoln and Amanda Bates managed the Bridgford Lodge HiMO on Bridgford Road in West Bridgford, and were found guilty of not licensing their HiMO (House in Multiple Occupation) and leaving tenants without any gas for over six months last winter.
The tenants contacted the Council when their gas was cut off and Rushcliffe stepped in to install an emergency boiler so they could wash up and keep themselves clean. The owners had forced tenants to live in unhygienic and unsanitary conditions, and despite being contacted many times by the Council and advised to get things fixed, they proved difficult and uncooperative.  The Council then had no choice but to act firmly.
Mr Cassells and Mr Lincoln pleaded guilty and both received fines of £3,000, plus had to pay the Council’s costs of £2,000. Total fines and costs were £8,000. Ms Bates received a discharge.
Rushcliffe and other Councils can now stop the three from becoming landlords of licensable HMO’s, as they would now fail the ‘fit and proper person’ test.