South Wales landlords out of pocket in Rent Smart Wales prosecutions

Fines totalling £3,720 have been handed out to a number of landlords across South Wales for evading compliance with Rent Smart Wales.

Four landlords across the region have been successfully prosecuted at Cardiff Magistrates Court for failing to register as a landlord and also failing to become licensed.

Since November 2016, it has been an offence for landlords with property in Wales to be unregistered, and for managing landlords and agents to be unlicensed.

Rent Smart Wales, the scheme set up to improve the private rented sector in Wales, is actively working with local authorities across the country to identify the minority who continue to operate outside of the law.

Cllr Lynda Thorne, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities at Cardiff Council, the single licensing authority for Rent Smart Wales, said: "The net is closing in on unregistered and unlicensed landlords and agents. More than 88,000 landlords with property in Wales are now registered and we will continue to take action against the minority who fail to comply.

"The cost of registering and if necessary, training and licensing, is far lower than the fines handed out by magistrates in these latest cases so it really makes sense to abide by the law and avoid a fine and criminal conviction."

Shaun Hurley of Heol Tymaen, Upper Boat, Pontypridd was found guilty of failing to register as a landlord and failing to be licensed. He was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay costs of £426 and a £100 victim surcharge.

Abdul Kahim of Queens Hill Crescent, Newport was fined £1,000 for failing to be licensed to carry out lettings and property management work as well as failing to provide information as requested by a notice under the Housing (Wales) Act 2014. He was also ordered to pay costs of £444 and a £100 victim surcharge.

Simon Blower of Kenilworth Place, Swansea failed to register himself or the property he manages in Llanelli with Rent Smart Wales and was fined £1,320 for three offences under the Housing (Wales) Act 2014. He must also pay £604 costs and a £44 victim surcharge.

Similarly, landlord Leighton Beavan of Flemingston Road, St Athan, Barry failed to comply and was fined £400 with £458 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.