Nine charges under the Housing Act have been brought against Kamran Adil, of Halterburn Close, Gosforth, by Durham County Council.
Private landlords are required to have licences for letting properties in certain areas of the county, with inspections taking place to ensure compliance with the licensing rules.
Adil owns eight properties in Blackhall, but did not have a licence for any of them, despite receiving numerous written and verbal warnings from the council.
At the court hearing, Adil was found guilty in his absence of eight counts of failing to license a property, as well as one count of failing to provide a copy of a valid electrical installation condition report.
He was fined £45,000, as well as being ordered to pay costs of £330 and a victim surcharge of £2,000.
Lynn Hall, strategic housing manager at Durham County Council, said that licensing rules are in place to ensure that rental accommodation is “safe and well managed”.
She continued: “By avoiding applying for the appropriate licences for his properties, Mr Adil has been left more than £45,000 worse off. This case should serve as a stark warning to other landlords and letting agents of the high financial penalty that can be imposed when they ignore the responsibilities of their role.”
