When landlords or letting agents fail to meet legal obligations they should expect to face enforcement action

Ballpark Property Limited pleaded guilty to eight offences under the Housing Act 2004 at a hearing held at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court.

Liverpool Council brought the charges to court as the company had failed to obtain the appropriate property licences at eight of their properties. All privately rented properties within the designated wards must be licensed by law under the city’s landlord licensing scheme.

Property licensing allows the council to ensure that rented homes meet minimum safety standards. Ballpark Property was investigated by the local authority as the landlord had previously committed similar offences under a former landlord licensing scheme, which ran from 2015 to 2020.

Despite attempts to engage with the company during the investigation, the council did not receive an adequate response and progressed with the prosecution. In court, the company’s solicitors stated that the eight properties are now licensed under the current scheme but accepted that they had been managed without appropriate licences for a period and had a history of this offence.

The judge noted that the previous fine of £200 per property had failed to deter the company from committing this offence again and ordered them to pay £1,000 per property. Together with costs and victim surcharge, the penalty totalled £12,606.

Since 2022 and the implementation of the new licensing scheme, 14 criminal prosecutions have been obtained by Liverpool Council, with a further 21 civil penalty notices served. More than 2,000 faults in properties have been identified including, damp and mould, electrical faults and asbestos.

Cllr Hetty Wood, Liverpool Council cabinet member for housing, said: “We are committed to working alongside landlords to ensure rental properties in Liverpool are safe and well-managed. Our landlord licensing scheme plays a crucial role in ensuring that every rented home meets the required standards.

“Those that are in designated areas have a legal duty to sign up for the scheme. When landlords or letting agents fail to meet their legal obligations, as in this case, they should expect to face enforcement action.”