Landlord with £100,000 income allowed 25 years to pay fines

A landlord reported to have received £100,000 in housing benefit from tenants in the past year is to repay court fines and costs at £40 per month - meaning he will take a quarter of a century to clear the debt.

Mark Thorogood, of Beaumaris on Anglesey, has most recently incurred fines and costs of  almost £7,000 for running three unlicensed HMOs after legal action by Conwy county council. 

However, the Daily Post claims Thorogood successfully obtained a consolidation on outstanding court fines which allows him to pay them off at just £40 per month. This is “despite raking in almost £100,000 in housing benefit via his tenants last year” according to the paper’s website.

Because Thorogood owes outstanding fines and court costs totalling over £12,000 the total debt will take at least 25 years to clear.

In 2010 Thorogood is reported to have been banned by the Financial Services Authority from being involved with regulated financial services and was on that occasion fined more than £104,000. 

Thorogood is quoted as having previously told the Daily Post: “I’ve made mistakes but my ambition is to be honest and true. I have been victimised. I have housed more people than you can imagine. I am the pied piper of Llandudno and I had tenants chasing me asking for somewhere to live. I had a million pound turnover with five staff but the regulations are so tight they are making it hard for landlords.”