Letting agent convicted of misleading tenants
A letting agent has been convicted of misleading tenants and unfair trading practices at Bristol Crown Court following an investigation by Bristol City Council.
On 2 July 2024, Mr Josh Knight, of Wardour Road in Bristol was found guilty, and received a financial penalty totalling £2,500.
If Mr Knight fails to pay the fine within 12-months without notifying the Council of reasons why, he could face up to seven days into prison.
He ran J & J Knight Properties Ltd. and faced two charges under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008: misleading tenants and not operating with professional diligence.
Mr Knight falsely claimed that J & J Knight Properties Ltd was part of the Property Redress Scheme (PRS) when it was not. The PRS is a legal requirement which protects tenants by offering an independent place to address and resolve complaints.
The investigation also found that his company did not keep complaint records and had no proper system to handle tenant complaints. This left tenants without a way to formally complain.
Initially, Mr Knight showed a willingness to work with the council’s Private Housing Service but then continued to trade without meeting his promises to cooperate.
In February 2023, Mr. Knight was supposed to attend a magistrate hearing but did not show up, leading to a warrant for his arrest. He was arrested in May 2024.
John Smith, Executive Director for Growth and Regeneration at Bristol City Council, said: “Bristol City Council takes unfair trading practices seriously and will continue to take tough action against landlords who mistreat tenants. This case demonstrates the council’s commitment to tackling unfair practices when renting, and we will continue to do everything we can to protect tenants and improve the standards for renters”
In a separate case brought by Bristol City Council, in June, Bristol Crown Court dismissed landlord Rihana Kauser’s of Franklyn Street, Bristol appeal against an earlier conviction of illegal eviction under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 after being found guilty in the Magistrates Court in December 2023.
She was prosecuted after her tenant returned home from spending Christmas with family to find another person occupying his room and his belongings packed away in black bin bags. Mrs Kauser was ordered to pay a total penalty of almost £8,000, which included the council’s costs and £425 compensation to the tenant.
