London landlord faces fine over licensing failure

A London based landlord, with a property in Harpurhey, has been fined over £1300 for flouting laws that require her to obtain a licence.

Atinuke Ogundere, of Byron Road, South Croydon, London, was fined £800, ordered to pay court costs of £522.66 and a £15 victims of crime surcharge after pleading guilty at a Manchester Magistrates Court hearing - a total of £1337.66.  
Ogundere was convicted of renting out a house on Leegrange Road, Harpurhey, without a licence since July 2008. Every privately rented property in this area requires a licence.

Despite several attempts to contact the landlord and an invitation to be interviewed under caution, she failed to obtain a licence.
 
The Court was informed that she failed to arrange the interview as she lived and worked in London and was unable to travel to Manchester. However, Ogundere was warned that as a landlord her responsibility is to the well being of the property, the tenants and for obtaining a licence. The fact she lives in London does not lessen this responsibility.
 
The landlord must now make an application for a licence as soon as possible. She was also warned that if she fails to do so, she will face a larger fine if brought before the court again.
 
Councillor Paul Andrews, Manchester City Council's executive member for neighbourhood services, said: "Any landlord thinking of renting a house in Manchester needs to make sure they are accountable for their property. It is not acceptable to be 200 miles away collecting rent from Manchester residents and not having proper local arrangements in place to meet their legal responsibilities.
 
"We have given this landlord every opportunity to comply with the law and apply for a licence. Where landlords fail to apply for a licence or do not manage their properties properly - we will prosecute."