Unlicensed HMO
30.—(1) The owner of an HMO commits an offence if—
(a)the HMO is required to be licensed under section 7 but is not so licensed, and
(b)the owner does not have a reasonable excuse for not having a licence.
(2) If—
(a)an HMO is required to be licensed under section 7 but is not so licensed,
(b)any person, acting as an agent for the owner of an HMO, does anything that the agent knows will permit or facilitate the occupation of the HMO by any other person, and
(c)the agent does not have a reasonable excuse for doing so,
the agent commits an offence.
(3) The owner of an HMO commits an offence if—
(a)the HMO is required to be licensed under section 7 but is not so licensed, and
(b)the owner authorises a person to act as mentioned in subsection (2)(b).
(4) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) or (2) is liable on summary conviction—
(a)to a fine not exceeding £20,000, and
(b)to a further fine not exceeding £50 for every day or part of a day after conviction on which the HMO is required to be licensed under section 7 but is not so licensed.
(5) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (3) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £10,000.