Council secures banning order against landlord over HMO breaches

West Northamptonshire Council has this month obtained a banning order against a landlord preventing him from letting houses in England for three years.

A First Tier Tribunal granted the order against Stephen Cunningham of Cogenhoe, Northamptonshire, following a three-year investigation.

The council said it had previously secured convictions for 21 offences under the Housing Act 2004 as well as a fine of £115,181. 

Cunningham, who was the landlord of four properties in Northampton, was found guilty of offences including failure to licence properties as houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) and failure to maintain standards of safety in accordance with the Management Regulations.

West Northamptonshire said that during the case it issued an Emergency Prohibition Order regarding a collapsed floor in one of the rented properties; undertook Emergency Remedial Action due to the lack of fire detection and alarm systems; and prohibited the use of a room that was being used as sleeping accommodation but had planning approval for a bin or bike store.

Following the convictions in the Magistrates Court, the council applied for a banning order which will remain in place from 17 June 2024 to 16 May 2027. 

The order bans Cunningham from letting houses in England or engaging in letting agency work or property management work in England.

Cllr Rosie Herring, West Northamptonshire’s Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “This Banning Order sends out a strong message to all landlords across West Northamptonshire that the Council will utilise all its legal options to ensure that there is no place for criminal and rogue landlords operating in our private rented accommodation sector.”