A landlord will face jail time if he has any tenants at a property he owns.
Frank Morrow, from New Brighton has been issued a banning order after he failed to comply with notices issued by Wirral Council to remedy hazards in his properties that were "risking the safety of his tenants." Morrow has now been banned from letting any property for three years.
If Morrow breaches the order he could be jailed for almost a year, on top of being issued an unlimited fine. The ban is the first to ever be issued in the Liverpool City Region.
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Morrow has now been added to the national Rogue Landlord Database, ensuring that other councils will be aware of his previous landlord record. He has previously been prosecuted by Wirral Council on two occasions, after he failed to improve poor housing conditions and obtain the proper licences for both his rental properties on Birkenhead Road, Seacombe.
In September 2021, he was fined over £7,000 after being found guilty of failing to obtain correct licences for two properties he rented out, as well as failing to carry out safety checks and any necessary repairs. He had been charged with six Housing Act offences.
In 2020, Morrow fined almost £4,000 after pleading guilty to six offences including failing to carry out gas and electricity checks, as well as failing to get a licence for the two Wirral properties involved.
At the time, a spokesperson for Wirral council said: "Following an inspection in July 2020, housing officers found the majority of requested works required under previously-issued improvement notices had not even been started."
This week, following the banning order being granted against Morrow on Tuesday, January 10, Cllr Tony Jones, chair of the council's economy, regeneration and housing committee, said: "The majority of landlords in Wirral provide decent and safe homes for their tenants – however, a minority continue to exploit their tenants and let sub-standard housing.
"This case demonstrates that the council will take firm action against rogue landlords, and we will use all the powers available to stop criminal landlords from operating in Wirral."
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