A STOCKTON landlord has been ordered to pay £2,450 after failing to obtain a house-for-let licence for a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO).

Shazad Qayyum, 38, of Outram Street, did not attend Teesside Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Tuesday, May 26) but an offence under Section 72 of the Housing Act 2004 was proved in his absence.

Mr Qayyum was prosecuted by Stockton Borough Council after council officers found that he was renting out an unlicensed HMO in Oxbridge Lane, Stockton.

The court heard that council officers carried out inspections of the property in January and February 2014 after receiving a complaint from a concerned member of the public.

During the visits, officers established that the size and occupancy of the property required it to be licensed and provided Mr Qayyum with a licence application.

Mr Qayyum failed to submit the application and when further visits confirmed the property was still being occupied in the same way, the council took legal action.

The council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Community Safety, Councillor Steve Nelson said: “We have a duty to protect the health and safety of private tenants and where conditions are not met and landlords fail to engage with us, we will take action through the courts.

“We hope that this case will send a clear message to private landlords that they have a responsibility to apply for the relevant licenses and also to ensure their properties meet the necessary standards. Failure to do so will not be tolerated.”

Mr Qayyum was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay the council’s £1,350 costs and a victim surcharge of £100.