Miller Metcalfe Estate Agents Ltd appeared in court for sentencing having admitted three offences relating to a property in Deansgate.
The court heard how the building was home to two ground floor businesses and a single flat on the first floor, where the same tenant had lived since 1985.
After taking over management of the upper residential floors of the property in April 2017, Miller Metcalfe subsequently let out the second and third floors, which formed a second flat, to three more tenants.
This meant the property was reclassified as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), meaning the management company had to follow strict safety requirements.
Officers discovered that there was no fire protected escape route that would allow the occupants to safely get out of the building in the event of a fire and was not fitted with the required interlinked fire alarm system to provide early warning in the event of a fire.
The company also failed to put their contact details on display in the property, as stipulated by HMO regulations.
The council served an Emergency Prohibition Order immediately preventing the second and third floors from being used for residential accommodation and the occupants were found alternative accommodation.
In court, Miller Metcalfe admitted it had not taken all reasonable measures to ensure the safety of their tenants.
As well as the fine, the court also ordered Miller Metcalfe to pay £1,496 in costs together with a £120 victim surcharge.
Everyone has a right to feel safe in their own home and this result sends a clear message to landlords that put people at risk by cutting corners or ignoring regulations.
As a council, our first priority is to work constructively with landlords to help them comply with all the relevant legislation.
However, we will not hesitate to take legal action against those that flout the rules and put profits before the health and safety of Bolton residents.
Helping ARLA Propertymark members to comply
We have a number of fact sheets that help members to comply with HMO licensing requirements
Fact sheet: Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation
In May 2015, the UK Government announced that they would extend mandatory licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) to address poor conditions and overcrowding.
Fact sheet: Additional Licensing
The Housing Act 2004 introduced licensing for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). Additional licensing is when a local authority can impose a licence on other categories of HMOs in its area which are not subject to mandatory licensing.
