Tamworth Borough Council has issued prohibition orders on two Houses in Multiple Occupation owned by Warwickshire County Council Chair Edward Harris, a Reform councillor, after the properties were found operating without proper licensing and failing to meet safety standards.
The council shut down the two six-bedroom properties in Stonydelph, Tamworth, following an investigation triggered by a resident complaint. Inspectors identified multiple safety deficiencies including no central heating or hot water, non-functioning fire alarms, inadequate cooking facilities and unsafe access to outdoor areas.
Licensing breaches and enforcement action
The properties were operating as HMOs without the required licensing. According to the council, the properties were deemed unfit for habitation and repeated warnings issued to Harris and the managing agents of one property went unheeded.
Harris has acknowledged ownership of both properties, stating: “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.”
However, Harris disputed some aspects of the council’s account, claiming “not all of those facts are presented in the correct light” and that there was “much more context”. He contested the assertion that he repeatedly failed to act on warnings and denied the properties were unsafe, describing the issues as “a couple of actions that need to be taken to make them more habitable”.
Wider enforcement context
This is the second instance of a Reform councillor being linked to unlicensed HMO operations. Jason Zadrozny’s company was previously fined nearly £9,000 by Ashfield District Council, despite his public support for stricter enforcement against non-compliant landlords.
Ben Clarke, Tamworth’s housing portfolio holder, said the council had “no alternative but to issue prohibition orders”. The authority is now considering further enforcement measures.
The case highlights ongoing challenges in HMO licensing compliance and enforcement, particularly in areas where local authorities operate mandatory licensing schemes for shared housing.