Landlord is fined £10k over licence (From York Press)

Landlord Graham Snowdon is fined £10k over licence

8:40am Saturday 22nd October 2011 in News

A LANDLORD has been fined £10,000 by York magistrates for renting out an unsafe house in multiple occupation.

Graham Snowdon, 56, landlord of 29, Gillygate, York, pleaded guilty to non-compliance with a Housing Act Notice when he appeared before the court.

A City of York Council spokeswoman said that on April 13, a licensing enforcement officer conducted an unannounced inspection of the premises.

“The officer found that the premises had eight tenants living over four floors and that the premises did not hold a licensable Housing Multiple Order (HMO licence) as it should have, as required by the Housing Act 2004.

“The premise was found to be severely lacking in fire detection equipment and had a total lack of fire prevention equipment.

“The amenities were also found to be well below those required by the act.

“Mr Snowdon was interviewed by council officers and subsequently appeared at York Magistrates court where he pleaded guilty to failing to license an HMO.”

Snowden was fined £10,000 and also ordered to pay costs of £1,216.50 and a £15 victim surcharge.