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£4,500 fine after rental house declared overcrowded
A landlord who overcrowded his property has had to pay over £4,500 after being prosecuted by his local council.
The property in Avonmouth was licensed to be occupied by five people, but when it was inspected there were found to be 11 living in the house.
The licence holder, Gurnam Singh, 53, was found guilty at Bristol Magistrates Court of failure to comply with a number of the conditions of his House in Multiple Occupation licence.
Singh entered a guilty plea and was fined £2,500, and ordered to pay costs of £1,906 as well as a £120 victim surcharge.
The inspection followed a rehousing request that went in to Bristol council from one of the tenants.
On investigation, it was found that Singh had let the property over to someone to manage on his behalf, which resulted in the property being let in such a way that it no longer met conditions of the licence.
The manager has now left and Singh confirmed in court that the property is no longer let as a House in Multiple Occupation.
