A landlord has been hit with a £12,000 fine for not licensing his three flats.

Elston Tuitt was found guilty of not licensing his privately rented flats in Leyton Park Road, Leyton.

The 62-year-old of Watermint Quay, Stoke Newington, entered an ‘abuse of process’ application against Waltham Forest Council after officers identified the flats during an inspection in January.

The inspection was part of the council’s Private Rented Property Licensing scheme which was launched in March 2015.

The judge dismissed his argument that only one license should be needed for the entire block of flats.

Cllr Khevyn Limbajee, cabinet member for housing said: “We are pleased that the Judge ruled in our favour and agreed that rented properties should be licensed separately.

“The majority of responsible landlords in the borough have responded well to the scheme, and we will continue to take action against anyone who thinks they can avoid obtaining a licence for their property.

“The use of licensing is helping us to drive up standards in the private rented sector and reduce anti-social behaviour across the borough.”

Since February 2016 over 40 landlords have been prosecuted for failing to licence their rented property, or for breaching licence conditions in Waltham Forest.

Original Source: http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/14908469.Landlord_fined___12_000_for_failing_to_licence_three_flats/