Council secures 10-year banning order against rogue landlord
We have recently secured a landmark victory in our efforts to protect housing tenants after successfully obtaining a 10-year banning order against a rogue landlord who repeatedly failed to meet basic housing standards and put the health and wellbeing of residents at risk.
On 9 January 2026, the First-Tier Tribunal (Residential Property) in Manchester granted our application to ban Mr Anthony Hall, of Ravensworth Road, Birtley, from letting residential properties, carrying out letting agency work, and undertaking property management work for a period of 10 years. This is one of the most serious enforcement actions available to councils, and reflects the gravity and persistence of Mr Hall's breaches of housing law.
A banning order is a legal sanction under the Housing and Planning Act 2016. It prevents an individual from being a landlord or managing rented homes for a specified period. Anyone who breaches a banning order commits a further criminal offence. In plain terms, it means the individual is no longer allowed to rent out or manage homes.
We applied for the banning order following a long history of non-compliance. In September 2025, Mr Hall pleaded guilty at South Tyneside Magistrates Court to offences under the Housing Act 2004 relating to one property in Bensham, and two properties in Birtley. Despite repeated intervention from ourselves, he failed to carry out the urgent improvement works needed to make the properties safe and fit to live in.
Tenants were left dealing with serious hazards, including damp and mould, unsafe gas appliances, dangerous electrical wiring, and difficulties opening an emergency exit. These issues posed a real and ongoing risk to their health and safety.
Mr Hall also had a significant record of earlier housing offences, which resulted in financial penalties. These included failing to comply with landlord licence conditions in October 2023, and managing a property that legally required a licence but was not licensed in March 2024. We served a Notice of Intent to seek a banning order on 3 March 2025, but Mr Hall made no representations and did not engage with the tribunal process.
In its decision, the Tribunal stated that Mr Hall had shown a 'devil-may-care attitude towards compliance with residential landlord and tenant regulations' and made clear that these were not 'victimless crimes', and that a ten-year ban was both justified and proportionate, not only to prevent Mr Hall from managing residential properties in the future but also to act as a deterrent to other landlords who might consider disregarding housing law.
Councillor Chris Buckley, Cabinet Member for Housing, said:
"Everyone deserves a safe, decent home, and this case shows just how seriously we take that responsibility. This landlord repeatedly ignored the law and put vulnerable residents at risk. That is completely unacceptable. This banning order protects tenants and sends a very clear warning to others - if you fail to maintain your properties and compromise people's wellbeing, we will not hesitate to take the strongest possible action."
If you are a private tenant and are concerned about the condition of your property, a neighbouring property, or you know someone who is privately renting and their property is in a state of disrepair, contact our Private Sector Housing Team on 0191 433 2350, or at [email protected].
We have recently secured a landmark victory in our efforts to protect housing tenants after successfully obtaining a 10-year banning order against a rogue landlord who repeatedly failed to meet basic housing standards and put the health and wellbeing of residents at risk.
On 9 January 2026, the First-Tier Tribunal (Residential Property) in Manchester granted our application to ban Mr Anthony Hall, of Ravensworth Road, Birtley, from letting residential properties, carrying out letting agency work, and undertaking property management work for a period of 10 years. This is one of the most serious enforcement actions available to councils, and reflects the gravity and persistence of Mr Hall's breaches of housing law.
A banning order is a legal sanction under the Housing and Planning Act 2016. It prevents an individual from being a landlord or managing rented homes for a specified period. Anyone who breaches a banning order commits a further criminal offence. In plain terms, it means the individual is no longer allowed to rent out or manage homes.
We applied for the banning order following a long history of non-compliance. In September 2025, Mr Hall pleaded guilty at South Tyneside Magistrates Court to offences under the Housing Act 2004 relating to one property in Bensham, and two properties in Birtley. Despite repeated intervention from ourselves, he failed to carry out the urgent improvement works needed to make the properties safe and fit to live in.
Tenants were left dealing with serious hazards, including damp and mould, unsafe gas appliances, dangerous electrical wiring, and difficulties opening an emergency exit. These issues posed a real and ongoing risk to their health and safety.
Mr Hall also had a significant record of earlier housing offences, which resulted in financial penalties. These included failing to comply with landlord licence conditions in October 2023, and managing a property that legally required a licence but was not licensed in March 2024. We served a Notice of Intent to seek a banning order on 3 March 2025, but Mr Hall made no representations and did not engage with the tribunal process.
In its decision, the Tribunal stated that Mr Hall had shown a 'devil-may-care attitude towards compliance with residential landlord and tenant regulations' and made clear that these were not 'victimless crimes', and that a ten-year ban was both justified and proportionate, not only to prevent Mr Hall from managing residential properties in the future but also to act as a deterrent to other landlords who might consider disregarding housing law.
Councillor Chris Buckley, Cabinet Member for Housing, said:
"Everyone deserves a safe, decent home, and this case shows just how seriously we take that responsibility. This landlord repeatedly ignored the law and put vulnerable residents at risk. That is completely unacceptable. This banning order protects tenants and sends a very clear warning to others - if you fail to maintain your properties and compromise people's wellbeing, we will not hesitate to take the strongest possible action."
If you are a private tenant and are concerned about the condition of your property, a neighbouring property, or you know someone who is privately renting and their property is in a state of disrepair, contact our Private Sector Housing Team on 0191 433 2350, or at [email protected].
