Another Sefton landlord is facing a substantial fine after a successful prosecution by Sefton Council for failing to license a rented property.

After pleading guilty to the charges, landlord Glenn McDowall was fined £10,900 including costs, by Magistrates.

Failure to comply is costly

Cllr Daren Veidman, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Highways said: “Landlords must register private rented properties under Sefton Council’s Selective and Additional (HMO) Licensing schemes and as this and other cases have shown, failure to do so is costly.

“Our Licensing schemes are in place to improve the management of privately rented properties and ensure tenants have safe and secure homes to live in.”

In 2023, Sefton Council extended its Selective and Additional (HMO) Licensing schemes for private rented homes until the end of February 2028.

Dealing with hazards

The schemes, which cover approaching 4,000 private rented properties across the Borough, enable the Council to step in and deal with poor management and hazards being faced by tenants. Since being introduced in 2018, the Licensing schemes have enabled the Council to step in and deal with thousands of serious health and safety hazards. These have included problems with fire safety, electrical hazards, damp & mould and excess cold.

In December 2024, fines totalling £45,000 were imposed three housing management companies after the Council brought a number of prosecutions. These included managing or being in control of properties without the required Selective Licence. There were also charges relating to damp, mould and overcrowding.

And in October last year, a landlord with multiple premises in Bootle was fined over £22,630, including £20,000 for breaching the initial order and renting the property out unlicensed.

Cllr Veidman added: “As this recent case and those last year show, Sefton Council is perfectly willing to prosecute landlords who do not follow the basic guidelines, although we prefer to work with them to resolve any issues and ensure the required standards are met.”

Find out more 

Landlords can find out if their property needs a licence and can make their application  here.

People can find out more about acceptable living standards for rented properties and how to make a complaint at www.sefton.gov.uk/Housing-standards.