The Chair of Warwickshire County Council, Reform’s Edward Harris (pictured), has admitted running two Houses in Multiple Occupation in Stonydelph, Tamworth, after Tamworth Borough Council shut them down for operating without an HMO licence and failing to meet basic safety standards.
It is not the first time a Reform councillor has been linked to running unlicensed HMOs. As previously reported in The Neg, Jason Zadrozny’s company was hit with nearly £9,000 in fines and costs by Ashfield District Council, despite his public backing of tougher enforcement against rogue operators.
Multiple breaches
Following a tip-off from a concerned resident, Tamworth’s inspectors found multiple serious safety failures at Harris’ two six-bedroom homes, including no central heating or hot water, no working fire alarms, inadequate cooking facilities and unsafe access to outdoor areas.
The council therefore concluded the properties were not fit for habitation and, despite issuing repeated warnings to Harris and the managing agents of one of the properties, no action was taken.
Harris eventually admitted the failings, saying: “Both properties are owned by me, and I take full accountability for what is happening with them. I will be doing my utmost to sort it out and get things back on a level playing field now I am aware of the full circumstances.”
Not all of those facts are presented in the correct light”
He added, however, that “not all of those facts are presented in the correct light” and that there was “much more context”, disputing the council’s claim that he had repeatedly failed to act on warnings. He also denied the properties were unsafe, saying there were “a couple of actions that need to be taken to make them more habitable”.
Tamworth’s housing boss Ben Clarke said the council had “no alternative but to issue prohibition orders”. The council is now considering further enforcement action.
Picture: Tamworth Council
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