A letting agency has received a maximum £5,000 fine for ignoring a request for information.

Hamlet Homes Properties, of Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, failed to respond to the request from Southend Council’s private sector housing team.

It failed to return a Requisition for Information within 14 days. The company was sent a reminder which it also failed to complete.

The form was sent to ask for basic information about a property the firm managed after the council received a complaint from the tenant.

The council subsequently prosecuted the agent at Southend Magistrates Court.

It says on the council’s website that Hamlet failed to attend court to provide a defence or enter a plea and the company was found guilty in its absence and fined the maximum possible for the offence which is £5,000, along with £465 in costs.

Cllr David Norman, executive member for housing, planning and regulatory services, said: “This notice is a very standard form that can be easily completed by the recipient.

“It is sent whenever we receive a complaint or a service request and seeks to establish information about an address, its occupation and management, and their interests in the land, to aid in investigations.

“It is served at an early stage to ensure that the council is in dialogue with those who are legally responsible for, or have an interest in, a property subject to any intervention.

“This legislation is in place to help and protect tenants, landlords and managing agents alike, and I am amazed that an established company like this would ignore such a request.

“The maximum fine that has been imposed sends out a strong message that an important legal request like this cannot just be ignored.”