A Chesterfield letting agent has been fined £8,652 after breaching new rules introduced under the Renters’ Rights Act.
Chesterfield Borough Council issued two financial penalties after an investigation triggered by tenants complaining about housing standards shortly after moving into a rented property.
Council officers found the agent had issued the tenants with a six-month fixed-term tenancy despite the new legislation preventing fixed-term assured tenancies.
The penalties were subsequently reduced to £7,354.20 after being paid within the specified timeframe.
TENANTS TOLD TO LEAVE
The council says a second offence was identified after the tenants expressed an intention to complain and were told to leave the property.
They were subsequently moved into alternative accommodation owned by a different landlord who was unknown to them.
The council has not named the letting agent involved.
Councillor Jean Innes, Chesterfield Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, says: “The Renters’ Rights Act was formally introduced earlier this year and rightly provides greater protection for tenants.
“We are committed to putting our communities first and making sure renters have the protection they need.
“That’s why before the new legislation came into force, our private sector housing team engaged with landlords and letting agents across the borough to make sure they understood the changes and what was expected of them.
“This case demonstrates that we will take action where landlords and agents fail to comply with their duties. We also hope it serves as a reminder to letting agents across Chesterfield to ensure they fully understand the recent changes to the law and their responsibilities.”
IMPROVEMENT NOTICE
The council also served an improvement notice requiring the original property to be brought up to the required letting standard.
It says the action is intended to protect future tenants from being housed in sub-standard accommodation.
