A MILFORD Haven estate agent has been fined more than £4,500 after admitting three offences under the Housing Act.

Cardiff Magistrates heard on Thursday that, earlier this year Yvette Phillips - trading as R Miles Scurlock, 25 Robert Street - was reported as an unregistered landlord and as an unlicensed agent.

Rent Smart Wales - the body which processes landlord registrations and grants licences to landlords and agents - wrote to Phillips on several occasions advising her of her legal obligations to register and licence.

As she had not progressed to submit a completed licence application or register her rental properties, a Fixed Penalty Notice was issued for the offence of failing to licence as an agent on June 9.

Phillips did not pay the fixed penalty notice, submit a licence application, nor did she register her properties despite a reminder being sent.

A formal notice was sent to Phillips advising her that she would be prosecuted. Again no reply was received.

The court was told that, on August 9, Rent Smart Wales again reviewed the case and confirmed Phillips had still taken no action to comply and was therefore still operating as an unlicensed agent and unregistered landlord.

Again, no reply was received from Phillips in response to the letter informing her a prosecution would be instigated. Subsequently, a summons was served for her to appear before Cardiff Magistrates Court.

In mitigation, Phillips was apologetic and gave an assurance that she would work with both Rent Smart Wales and the Housing Standards team at Pembrokeshire County Council, and be fully compliant within the next two weeks.

The court fined Phillips £4,600 for the three offences and ordered her to pay court costs of £671 and a £170 victim surcharge.