The boss of a Huddersfield lettings agency has been heavily fined after one of his properties was rented out without a licence.

Dennis Goodridge, the sole director of Gallery Estates, was responsible for managing the student rental property in Gledholt.

But when the students moved in vital fire safety precautions had still not been installed, Kirklees Magistrates’ Court heard.

Goodridge was ordered to pay more than £5,000 after his solicitor described him as being “out of his depth.”

He pleaded guilty to managing a house in multiple occupation without a licence.

The court was told that the John William Street-based firm was started in 2006 with property sales.

In 2009 Goodridge branched into letting properties, particularly handling accommodation for the growing student population.

One of such houses managed by the company was in Park Drive, which last year was due to be let out to students for the forthcoming academic year.

This was owned by someone else and required a licence before it could be used for multiple occupation.

The property also had to comply with a number of safety regulations under the Housing Act.

These included the fitting of doors with 30 minutes of fire resistance and a fire alarm panel with link detectors fitted in all the bedrooms, kitchen and living rooms.

Goodridge applied for the licence in April and made a list all the necessary work.

In July he declared that the alarms and fire resistant doors had been fitted when in fact these were still being costed a few days earlier.

By December Goodridge admitted that there was still some work outstanding.

Miles Barker, prosecuting on behalf of Kirklees Council, said: “In January the council received a complaint.

“The property had been in occupation since July despite works not being done and a lack of fire doors and alarms.”

In mitigation Jonathan Slawinski said that his 37-year-old client, who was not in court, regretted his actions.

He said: “The wording ‘being out of his depth’ springs to mind.

“The biggest mistake that Mr Goodridge made was making the application himself when he should have let the landlord do it.

“He will never get involved with applications for licences in the future.”

Mr Slawinski added that Goodridge had experienced difficulty getting the landlord to fund work on the property.

All of this work and the associated certificates have since been completed, the court heard.

Deputy district judge Philip Houlden said: “The defendant is in this line of business and should be aware of the requirements.

“He didn’t take help offered by the local authority and some of the information he provided was misleading in terms of the work that had been done.

“This legislation is in place to guarantee the safety of occupants and I’m particularly concerned that certain fire systems weren’t in place.”

Judge Houlden fined Goodridge £4,000 and ordered him to pay £1,000 court costs and £120 victim surcharge.

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