TWO Newport landlords were fined a total of £7,000 for failing to comply with the rules of running houses in multiple occupancy (HMO).

Saeed Zafar, of Queens Hill Crescent, was found guilty in his absence by Newport magistrates who found he failed to licence a HMO and breaching the regulations for managing such properties.

A visit made to his property in York Place, containing six bedsits and one self-contained flat, in 2010 found it was in a poor condition with a number of failings.

He was fined £2,000 for failing to licence the property as aHMO and £500 on each of the eight breaches of the management regulations. He was also ordered to pay the council costs of £958.80 and a victim surcharge of £15.

Zafar appealed the conviction, but it was upheld at Cardiff Crown Court.

Louis Marshall, of Began Road, Old St Mellons, Cardiff, was found guilty in his absence at Abergavenny Magistrates’ Court for failing to renewaHMO licence.

He registered a property in the city’s Caerleon Road in 2006 for a period of five years, but an inspection carried out after the renewal date discovered it was still being used as aHMO.

Marshall was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £729, as well as a victim surcharge of £15.

Councillor William Routley, cabinet member for regulation, said running anHMOwas a serious responsibility and the council would not hesitate to take action against those who ignore the council’s advice.

It is an offence to let out a home in Newport to three or more people not living as a family when not licensed by the council as an HMO. Failure to obtain a licence could result in a fine, on conviction, of up to £20,000.