A student letting agent has been ordered to pay £5,560 in fines and costs and banned from managing shared houses.

Digs (Bristol) Ltd is one of the city’s largest letting agents with more than 1,000 bed spaces in around 100 houses in multiple occupation (HMO) on their books.

Following an admission that the firm was running an HMO without a licence at Bristol Magistrates Court, the directors and company were fined £4,000 and ordered to pay £1,560 costs.

Now Bristol City Council is banning the form and directors from holding any HMO licences.

A council spokesman said court result meant the company and its directors were not considered “fit and proper persons” to manage HMOs and could no longer hold any HMO licences.

Cabinet Councillor Anthony Negus, of the council’s housing department, said: “This prosecution sends out a clear message that landlords of homes of multiple occupation who fail to abide by the law can expect to face action.

“There is no place in Bristol for rogue landlords. Everyone that lets out a large house of multiple occupation is required to have a licence and to abide by its conditions in order to ensure that their property is safe and fit for purpose.

“Bristol City Council has a good track record of working with landlords and providing them with help and support.

“However, those who choose to operate outside the law should understand that they are liable to prosecution.”

The council has also notified the tenants they can reclaim rent for up to 12 months up to the court date by taking the firm to a Rents Tribunal.

Digs (Bristol) has an office in Clifton, Bristol.