A rogue landlord who let his tenant sleep in a bike store and rented out a crumbling property has been banned from letting houses in England for three years.

A First Tier Property Tribunal granted the banning order against Stephen Cunningham of Cogenhoe, Northamptonshire, following a three-year investigation which resulted in convictions for 21 housing offences as well as a £115,181 fine.

Cunningham, the landlord of four properties in Northampton including on St Michael's Road (pictured) near the center of the city, was found guilty of failure to licence HMOs and failure to maintain standards of safety in accordance with the management regulations.

During the investigation, West Northamptonshire Council issued an emergency prohibition order relating to a collapsed floor in one of his rented properties. It also took emergency remedial action due to a lack of fire detection and alarm systems, and prohibited the use of a room that was being used as sleeping accommodation but which had planning approval for a bin or bike store.

Vulnerable

At Northampton Magistrates Court, the District Judge said Cunningham’s tenants were vulnerable and had a reasonable expectation that the landlord would provide a safe home. He added that nothing would have been done to improve their living conditions without the council’s intervention.

The banning order prevents Cunningham from letting houses or engaging in letting agency work or property management work in England and remains in place from 17th June 2024 to 16th May 2027.

Councillor Rosie Herring, cabinet member for housing, says: “This banning order sends out a strong message to all landlords across West Northamptonshire that the council will utilise all its legal options to ensure that there is no place for criminal and rogue landlords operating in our private rented accommodation sector.”