PRIVATE landlord Matthew Hartley has been ordered to pay more than £1,000 for operating in Burnley without a proper licence.

He admitted managing a property in Piccadilly Road without the required paperwork, which falls within the Trinity selective licensing area.

The prosecution was brought by Burnley Council and heard at the town’s magistrates’ court.

Hartley pleaded guilty by post and was fined £200 and ordered to pay £225.75 costs, £584 in compensation for the loss of licence fees income, and a £20 victim surcharge.

The court was told that the council had introduced selective licensing in the area as a way of tackling poor management of private rented properties.

Under the scheme, houses within designated areas are required to be licensed.

Hartley bought the property in 2013 and was contacted by the council about this several times between March 2014 and June 2015.

In November 2015 a council officer visited the house and spoke to the tenant who confirmed she had been living there since the beginning of that year.

A further reminder was sent to Hartley in January.

The court was told that no complete valid licence application had been received by the council.

Clare Jackson, the council’s private sector housing manager, said: “In this case, the owner and manager of the property didn’t apply for a licence despite being sent several reminders.”