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15.
December
2017.
Landlords and agents urged to avoid action

LANDLORDS & AGENTS URGED TO AVOID ACTION

 

The single licensing authority for Rent Smart Wales, Cardiff Council, is urging all non-compliant landlords and agents to come forward now to avoid action.

 

The warning comes as a North Wales agent is the latest to be prosecuted at Cardiff Magistrates Court today for failing to be licensed.

 

Louise Docwra, trading as North Wales Property of 116 High Street, Bangor, was found guilty of carrying out property letting and management work without a licence, contrary to the Housing (Wales) Act 2014.

 

 

Rent Smart Wales was informed thatNorth Wales Property was operating as an unlicensed agent and advertising properties to let on its website, an activity which requires an agent to obtain a licence. However, no licence application has been submitted to Rent Smart Wales for the company.

 

In her absence, Magistrates fined Ms Docwra £1,000 in total for two offences and ordered her to pay court costs of £300 and a £50 victim surcharge.

 

Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, Cllr Lynda Thorne, said: "More than 86,000 landlords have now registered with Rent Smart Wales and we have issued almost 21,000 licences to self-managing landlords and commercial agents. Those who continue to flout the law and avoid complying are in the minority but we are cracking down on that minority.

 

"We are prosecuting landlords and agents from all over Wales and are working with the 22 local authorities to identify those who still are not complying.

 

"A conviction for an agent has serious consequences as a condition of obtaining a licence is that someone is fit and proper to carry out letting and management activities. All those who continue to operate without a licence are putting the future of their businesses at risk."