A LANDLORD has been left counting the cost of breaching the terms of his licence– issued through a scheme that aims to improve the standard of rental properties.

Durham County Council brought the case against Matthew Snowdon, of Cows Hill Road, Allenhead, after he failed to comply with the conditions of his licence for two properties on Thorpe Street, Easington Colliery, which come under the selective licensing designation.

The Wembley area of Easington Colliery has been a designated selective licensing area since July 2014. It was established in a bid to ensure that properties are managed appropriately and that landlords are supported to raise standards and reduce anti-social behaviour.

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court heard that the defendant did not notify the council of a change of tenant in both properties and he failed to produce tenant references on both occasions.

Instead he claimed that both properties were empty which was proved to be false.

Snowdon failed to attend court but submitted a letter confirming the properties were now empty.

He was ordered to pay a total of £452, including a £292 fine, £130 in costs plus a £30 victim surcharge.

Councillor Kevin Shaw, cabinet member for housing and assets, said: "We are committed to working with landlords to improve the standard of homes across the county."

“Selective licensing means that conditions are in place to allow the council to have a degree of control over those properties. This includes regulating the people who occupy them.

“Allowing someone to move into a property without suitably referencing them can severely undermine the licensing scheme. We want people to know that if landlords don’t abide by their licence conditions we will take appropriate action where necessary.”