October 3, 2019 10.06 am This story is over 53 months old

Lincoln landlords face £30k fines for housing breaches

The fines will act as an alternative to prosecution

Landlords in Lincoln could soon face fines of up to £30,000 for breaking housing rules.

City of Lincoln councillors are being recommended to approve the fines, which will act as an alternative to prosecution for specific offences under the Housing Act 2004.

The authority’s Policy Scrutiny Committee will examine the plans under changes to its Health and Environment Policy 2019-2024.

The civil penalties would be able to be charged on a person who would “not make any financial gain as a result of their failure to comply with the relevant legislation”.

Under the new rules, landlords or licence holders could be penalised for:

  • Failure to comply with an Improvement Notice
  • Offences in relation to licensing of houses including as Houses in Multiple Occupations
  • Contravention of an overcrowding notice
  • Failure to comply with the management regulations in respect of HMOs

Council officers said the move will make enforcement more robust, enhance training and make if clear what it’s approach to enforcement is.

“Our enforcement principles are based on working to assist businesses in meeting their legal obligations and focusing on prevention rather than cure,” said documents before the council.

“This is an existing approach based around supporting our businesses to comply with legislative requirements and ultimately succeed.

“The policy will also ensure consistent risk-based enforcement across our businesses ensuring that those that do not comply with legal requirements or standards, do not benefit.”

Councillors will also vote on whether to introduce a penalty of up to £5,000 for landlords who don’t install carbon monoxide alarms in their properties.

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