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Two local landlords have been fined £3,000 and ordered to pay more than £6,000 in costs for failing to provide vital documents in support of an investigation into an illegal House in Multiple Occupation.

Nicole Cameron, director of local letting and property management company South Tyneside Rooms, along with property manager Shamusdin Mohammad were both convicted in May of failing to comply with a Request for Information Notice under the Housing Act 2004.

The Notice required them to provide documents that would have assisted officers from Â鶹ÊÓƵ who were investigating an HMO the pair were operating illegally on Dean Road, South Shields.

At South Tyneside Magistrates' Court, Cameron was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £1,000 in costs and a £100 surcharge. Mohammed was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £4,918 costs and a £200 surcharge.

Cllr Jim Foreman, Lead Member for Housing and Community Safety, said: "We're committed to driving up standards in the private rented sector and building good relationships with local landlords to ensure that accommodation is well managed, safe and of a decent quality.

"The majority of landlords and agents operate in a legal and professional manner to provide homes meeting the required standards, but unfortunately there are some who poorly manage and maintain property and, in some cases, knowingly flout the law.

"These hefty fines should send a very stark message about the potential consequences.

"We won't hesitate to take action when we think people are not operating within the law that is designed to protect tenants."