A Cardiff landlord with 16 properties, each containing a number of flats, in the city has been given a hefty fine for failing to obtain licences to let and manage those properties with Rent Smart Wales.

Charles Baker of Cyncoed Road, Cyncoed, Cardiff was found guilty in his absence of 124 offences at Cardiff Magistrates' Court - and ordered to pay£20,000 with £741 costs.

Landlords who let and manage their own properties are required under the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 to be registered and licensed with Rent Smart Wales. Magistrates found Mr Baker guilty  in his absence of failing to be licensed to carry out lettings activities and failing to be licensed to carry out property management activities on each of his 62 properties in the Roath area of the city.

Cllr Lynda Thorne, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities at Cardiff Council, the single licensing authority for Rent Smart Wales, said: "Rent Smart Wales was introduced to drive up standards  in the private rented sector and to help professionalise the role of a landlord for the benefit of themselves and their tenants.  It's quite shocking that a landlord with so many properties in the city has sought to evade compliance.

"However, it really doesn't matter if you are a landlord with 60 properties or just the one because all self-managing landlords must be licensed with Rent Smart Wales to operate legally.

"We are prosecuting landlords for non-compliance across Wales and will continue to do so to root out the minority who are foolish enough to believe the law doesn't apply to them."