Prosecutions and Enforcement

Whilst the majority of landlords offer good quality accommodation and operate within the law there are some landlords who are less responsible.

The Housing Act 2004 lays down a number of offences relating to HMOs and corresponding penalties, including:

• Failure to comply with an improvement notice: fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (currently £5,000)
• Failure to comply with a prohibition order: fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (currently £5,000) and ongoing daily fine of £20
• Failure to comply with Management Regulations: fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (currently £5,000)
• Operating an unlicensed HMO or allowing an HMO to be occupied by more persons than a licence allows: fine of up to £20,000
• Breach of a licence condition: fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (currently £5,000)
• Supplying incorrect information in a licence application: fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (currently £5,000).

The Council will take enforcement action in appropriate cases and you can see details of prosecutions on the Prosecutions Register.

You can read more about our most recent prosecutions of landlords who failed to license their HMOs on the left.

There are also provisions in the Housing Act to refuse or revoke HMO licences. In Swansea, decisions on refusal and revocation are delegated to the Council's Licensing Committee.