A MAN has been fined £2,000 after failing to register a property he owned in Enniskillen as a house with multiple occupancy.

Alan McNutt, of Scaffog Avenue, Enniskillen, was charged with failing to comply with the Statutory Registration Scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupation in respect of premises at Sedan Terrace on or about April 13, 2016.

The case was brought before Fermanagh Magistrates Court yesterday (Wednesday) by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. The defendant did not attend the hearing.

A solicitor prosecuting on behalf of the Housing Executive told the court that an inspection had confirmed that the property in question was a house with multiple occupation.

He said that the defendant was then invited to fill out an application form to have the property registered, and he had done so.

However, the solicitor said that McNutt did not have an Electrical Installation Certificate for the house and this was the only outstanding matter preventing registration.

He further stated that the need for an Electrical Installation Certificate was a fire safety or public safety issue to make sure that the wiring was “up to scratch”.

Adding that the defendant had nothing previous on his record, the solicitor said that the maximum penalty that could be imposed on McNutt was £20,000.

After district judge Nigel Broderick asked if it was a continuing offence, the solicitor replied: “Yes, it is.”

The judge observed that the defendant had breached “important regulations”.

Describing a fine as a “cumbersome tool”, Mr Broderick said that, in this case, it was the only remedy he had at his disposal to ensure the regulations were complied with.

The judge fined McNutt £2,000, imposed a £15 offender levy and ordered him to pay costs of £197.20.