Four unscrupulous landlords have been banned from renting properties for life, after operating unlicensed and poorly maintained Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs) in Northampton.
Dimitrii Viconschi, Karlis Cernihs, Vadims Oblivoks, and Aleksejs Cugurovs will no longer be able to act as landlords or have any involvement in the managing or letting of rented accommodation anywhere in England.
West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) obtained a banning order, which was handed down by the First Tier Tribunal after a virtual hearing on 3 April this year, following extensive investigations.
Lifetime banning orders, granted under the Housing and Planning Act 2016, are rare and demonstrate the severity of this case.
The local authority’s private sector housing team, led by Christopher Stopford, uncovered a rent-to-rent scheme where the offenders leased properties and illegally sublet them as Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) without licences.
The homes were in poor condition, with serious safety and maintenance issues, including:
+ Lack of fire safety measures and means of escape
+ Inadequate maintenance of living spaces and communal areas
+ Failure to maintain water supply and drainage
+ Absence of waste disposal facilities
+Failure to provide required documentation
+ These conditions posed serious risks to tenants’ health and safety.
The decision was handed down by the First Tier Tribunal after a virtual hearing on 3 April this year, following extensive investigations. Susan Desfontaines, of the West Northamptonshire In-house legal team, was the solicitor with conduct and advocate for the banning order hearing.
The four were previously prosecuted in 2024 for operating unlicensed and non-compliant Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) across Northampton.
Cllr Charlie Hastie, cabinet member for housing, commented: “This outcome sends a clear message that we will not tolerate landlords who put profit before people.
“We are committed to protecting tenants and ensuring that all rental properties meet the legal standards for safety and quality.”
