Nottingham City Council has successfully prosecuted a landlord for failing to apply for a house of multiple occupation (HMO) licence.

The landlord, Mr Maurice John Doyle, rents a 3 storey house on Sherwin Road, Lenton, to a group of students. Despite given many warning by the City Council, Mr Doyle failed to apply for the appropriate licence and the case was bought to the Nottingham Magistrates Court on Wednesday 28 May.

Mr Doyle did not attend court but the case was heard in his absence and he was fined £1,200 and ordered to pay all the Council’s costs of £658.

In 2006 it became a legal requirement for certain types of houses in multiple occupation to be licensed. The type of property which currently needs a licence are those which have 3 or more storeys and 5 or more unrelated occupants.

Cllr Alan Clark, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Regeneration at Nottingham City Council, said: “Nottingham City Council has a firm commitment to ensuring that HMOs in the city are operated legally and hold the necessary licence. It is currently working to identify unlicensed properties and will continue to prosecute landlords or managing agents who have failed to apply.”