A letting agent has been handed fines totalling £7,000 and costs of £1,140

The Letting Centre (Oxford), based in Headington, was prosecuted last month after environmental health officers found that it was managing a House in Multiple Occupation that was unlicensed and which failed to comply with fire safety requirements.

Officers from Oxford City Council’s HMO enforcement team visited the property and found it had a missing fire door and there were locks on doors that could prevent occupants escaping if there was a fire.

Darren Hazell, director of The Letting Centre (Oxford) pleaded guilty to being in control of an unlicensed HMO and was fined £5,000 for failing to obtain a licence.

He also pleaded guilty to one breach of the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006 and was fined £2,000.

Oxford Magistrates Court also ordered The Letting Centre to pay the council’s full costs of £1,140 for bringing the case to court.

The firm was set up in 1999 and displays the UKALA logo on its website.