Trophy Homes Ltd, a letting agent in Liverpool, has been banned from operating unlicensed Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO). Liverpool City Council successfully placed the Banning Order on the rogue letting agent after failing to obtain a license for two HMO properties. The Banning Order, granted under the Housing and Planning Act 2016 on Thursday, 25 April 2024, will last for four years. As a result of the order, Trophy Homes Ltd will also be listed on the Database of Rogue Landlords and Property Agents, which is accessible to all housing authorities in England.
The order was granted by a First-tier Tribunal and prohibits Trophy Homes from letting housing in England, engaging in English letting agency work, engaging in English property management work, or doing two or more of those things. Breaching the Banning Order is a criminal offence. While existing tenancies are not subject to the ban for six months, Trophy Homes is prevented from granting any new tenancies. However, current tenancies can end or assign without significant impact on current occupiers.
The failure to license HMO properties can lead to criminal charges. Earlier this month, Trophy Homes Ltd was charged over £250,000 for similar offences. Liverpool City Council requires all HMO properties with five or more people to be licensed to ensure that license holders follow minimum standards of safety. People living in HMO properties have a higher risk of fire compared to those in single-occupancy properties due to the greater number of persons in the property. This suggests there is an increased chance of rapid wear to vital safety features like fire doors and smoke alarms. Students living in HMOs may be vulnerable, living independently, perhaps in a different city or country for the first time, and may be unaware of their rights, or worried about complaining to their landlord or the council.
Louise Harford, Liverpool City Council’s Interim Director of Housing, said that the council would take action when needed to keep tenants safe. She emphasized that the Banning Order sent a signal that the council’s Private Sector Housing team would not tolerate landlords and letting agents who ignore their legal obligations
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