Lestyn Glynog Davies, a General Practioner from Brynamman in Carmarthenshire, was prosecuted on April 17 at Cardiff Magistrates Court for failure to licence 23 Tewkesbury Street in Cathays under the Housing Act 2004. He was fined £1500 and ordered to pay £290 costs.
Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMO) require a licence to ensure the property meets all the required health and safety requirements. An HMO application form was sent to both owners of the property, including his father John Glynog Davies who is the co-owner and a local Councillor representing Quarter Bach in Carmarthenshire.
Following their failure to comply, the investigation that followed confirmed that the letting agent, Luckey Lettings, didn’t manage the property with the rent sent directly sent to the two owners. Cardiff Council then proceeded with legal action.
Councillor Bob Derbyshire, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Regulatory Services at Cardiff Council, said: “The Council has tried on a number of occasions to get the owners to comply with the law. Following their failure to do so, they were under the impression that due to their position in society they shouldn’t be prosecuted. The law is in place for a very good reason, to ensure that health and safety requirements are met and applies to everyone.”
Summing up the case the Chair of the bench Mrs Una Scott told the defendant:
“You had opportunities to deal with the application for a HMO licence over 4 years and didn’t. It is your responsibility. It is a profitable hobby for you. Legislation is there to protect inexperienced young people/students in this type of housing”.
