Trinity barrister, Alice Richardson successfully represented a Landlord in an appeal against Newcastle City Council.
In Magistrates proceedings in January 2018 District Judge Begley had held that a landlord, Ammar Mirza, had been required to apply for four licenses for four separate parts of an House in Multiple Occupation (‘HMO’) under the Housing Act 2004. Mr Mirza had applied for one license for the whole HMO and the Council had refused to determine the application.
Mr Mirza, and the managing agent City Base Lettings Limited, appealed to the Crown Court.
On appeal His Honour Judge Timothy Gittins accepted that the Council should have determined Mr Mirza’s application before taking action against him. In failing to do so it had deprived him of the opportunity to appeal the assessment that four licenses were required to the First Tier Tribunal. After considering the judge’s findings the Council decided not to fight the appeal any further.
Alice specialises in Housing, Property and Public Law and has recently been appointed to the Attorney General's Regional Panel of Counsel.
Further details can be found in the Chronicle.