A landlord will not be able to manage his own properties after failing to register in a selective licensing scheme.

Instead, he will have to appoint an agent or some other designated person.

Blackpool landlord Raymond Baguley has lost his “fit and proper person” status, failing to attend the third hearing of his case before local magistrates.

An application was successfully made by Blackpool Council that the case against Baguley be heard in his absence.

Baguley was found guilty of failing to have a property in the South Beach area licensed, and was fined £750 as well as ordered to pay £350 costs and £75 victim surcharge.

Tim Coglan, Blackpool Council’s head of public protection and enforcement, said: “Almost all properties in South Beach are licensed, but there are a handful of landlords who have flouted the law.

“Selective licensing is making an enormous difference in the area and is helping to start to drive up management standards and to address issues of anti-social behaviour through our inspection schedule and work with landlords.

“Those people who are not complying are standing in the way of that work and letting the community down.

“Securing convictions for these offences means that, as well as receiving fines and being asked to pay surcharges and costs, guilty parties are no longer considered fit and proper persons to manage property within the selective licensing area.

“They will therefore incur further cost in having to employ people to manage their properties.

“I hope this will send a message that Blackpool Council is using a determined and stringent approach to improving private rented housing,

“I hope it also shows the large number of progressive, positive landlords who have worked with us that we will not allow those who have refused to do so to get away with it.”