A rogue landlord has been fined £60,000 by Coventry City Council for letting out a poorly managed and unlicensed House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) in Monks Road, CV1.

Action was taken by the council, which has now taken over management of the property, after a complaint from the HMO’s occupants that they had been left without gas or electricity.

Environmental health officers from the Property Licensing and Housing Enforcement team visited the unlicensed property and discovered multiple breaches of the HMO management regulations.

A council scheme introduced citywide in 2020 requires all HMOs in Coventry to be licensed but despite being given several months the landlord of this property had failed to do.

With the council currently in charge of the management of the HMO, the tenants occupying the property are currently required to pay their rent to the local authority, with the landlord still responsible for any mortgage payments.

Cllr David Welsh, cabinet member for housing and communities, said: “The making of this Interim Management Order sends a clear message to landlords – if you do not licence your property the council can and will use its powers to take over the running of your HMO.

“The level of the financial penalty notice highlights the severe punishments that can be levied to those who flout the law.

“These fines are then ring-fenced for use by the team to further their enforcement work.”

Adrian Chowns, property licensing and housing enforcement manager, added: “Our Officers have worked tirelessly in the city to promote the HMO licensing scheme and to ensure that where landlords abandon their duties and responsibilities, the team is ready to step in to protect tenants and use of the full range of enforcement powers at their disposal.”