Harrogate Borough and County Councillor Cliff Trotter attended Harrogate Magistrates Court this morning (17 December 2013) following discrepancies in the letting of a property that he owned.
During 2004 it become law to register a house in multiple occupation (HMO) with the local council. This is something that Mr Trotter failed to do following a change of occupancy in a property.
The HMO scheme is where 5 tenants share common facilities in certain types properties and it is aimed at improving standards.
Mr Trotter admitted fault and has now rectified the error. As mitigation he, in part, blamed a busy schedule of managing his work as Councillor for both the Harrogate Borough and County Council, along with running many community sports programmes.
He was fined £500 + costs