A FORMER Wellington man, who owns eight properties in Taunton, faces a court bill of almost £35,000 for breaching housing laws.

Darren Jarman, 51, now of French Weir, Taunton, was in charge of eight houses in multiple occupations (HIMOs) which were not licensed.

He was hit with a £34,640 court bill at Taunton Magistrates Court after previously pleading guilty to eight counts. The bill consisted of a total of £25,000 costs, £9,500 in fines, and a £190 victim surcharge.

The breaches at various periods in 2021 and 2022 concerned properties in Holford Road, French Weir Avenue, Parmin Way, Bossington Drive, Salisbury Street, Grays Terrace and Lambrook Road, all in Taunton, and one in Gravelands Lane, Henlade.

Jarman was prosecuted by Somerset Council under the Housing Act 2004, which states that landlords who rent out a property which houses five or more occupants who share facilities must apply to their local authority for a licence.

The case comes after the court recently threw out a case where another landlord tried to serve an injunction on the former Somerset West and Taunton District Council to prevent the authority undertaking its statutory duty to inspect a Taunton property.

The council served enforcement notices on the landlord's property ordering them to make improvements as they were in breach of the Housing Act 2004.

The landlord consequently tried to serve the injunction which the court did not support and was ordered to pay the council £6,000.

Kim Lewington, the local authority's private section housing and environment protection manager, said: "We work closely with Somerset landlords and support them to meet their legal obligations.

"However, we will not shy away from taking strong enforcement action and applying sanctions where they are needed.

"The council is satisfied with the outcome of these court case