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Unlicensed landlords in Oldham warned to get their acts together

Landlords in Oldham must not shirk their responsibilities and legal obligations, which includes signing up to the Selective Licensing scheme or face potentially being fined. 

The warning has come from Oldham Council after it prosecuted another three ‘unlicensed’ landlords - and warned others to get certified in order to comply with local authority's initiative to improve management of properties, clampdown rogue landlords and irresponsible tenants.

It is illegal to operate a privately rented property without a licence in St Mary's; Hathershaw; Waterhead; Hollinwood; Primrose Bank and selected areas of Coldhurst, Alexandra and Oldham Edge.

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A landlord will also commit a criminal offence if they fail to comply with any of the conditions of a licence granted to them.

The scheme has proved controversial after some landlords protested against the £490 per rented property fee and argued that more should be done to protect them from nuisance tenants who don't pay rent on time.

A petition signed by 150 landlords was handed to the council but the authority insists the scheme helps to improve property management and tenant behaviour.

The three landlords to be prosecuted by Oldham council were ordered to pay a total of £3,372 in fines, costs and victim surcharges after they continued to rent out properties without licences.

Rehana Aziz, of Darwin Street, Oldham, was fined £250 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £22 and £500 costs.

Rafit Hussain, of Waterloo Street, Oldham, was fined £500 and ordered to pay costs of £750 and a victim surcharge of £50.

Kamal Ahmed, of Waterloo Street, Oldham, was fined £500 and ordered to pay costs of £750 and a victim surcharge of £50.

Councillor Barbara Brownridge, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and co-operatives, said: "The majority of private landlords in the areas where licensing is in force are supportive of this scheme because they, like us, know the rented sector in Oldham needs to improve.

"But we are still coming across a small number who think the law doesn't apply to them. These latest prosecutions show that we will take action against landlords who flout the law.

"Some of the properties our officers have visited fail to meet the required homes standard, which can have a terrible impact on the health and welfare of tenants and the wider community.

"This scheme aims to make private landlords meet satisfactory standards of tenancy and property management.

"But it is also about tenants acting responsibly in a way that does not blight their neighbourhood and showing respect for their neighbours."

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