An agent has been prosecuted for 11 consumer protection and housing offences and ordered to pay over £24,000.

Andrew’s Estates, with branches covering areas in Wirral, Cheshire and Liverpool, failed to secure the deposits of seven individual tenants in a government-approved scheme.

District Judge Sanders heard at Wirral Magistrates Court that all the properties were within the council’s designated selective licensing areas.

In addition to failing to secure the deposits, company director Andrew Smith also pleaded guilty to providing false information to the council and a further unfair trading offence relating to his company’s website.

As a result of the company’s failings, Smith and his company were ordered to pay £24,118 in fines and costs for offences committed under the Housing Act 2004 and the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

Cllr Stuart Whittingham, Wirral Council cabinet member for housing and planning, said: “The failings of this company put potentially vulnerable tenants’ deposits at risk, which is unacceptable.

“The purpose of the selective licensing scheme is to ensure properties are being managed correctly, and this case demonstrates what an invaluable tool selective licensing is.”

The Andrew’s Estates website displays logos including that of the Deposit Protection Scheme.