Jonathan's relentless campaigning, inspired by Price & Kensington Teapot Works in Longport, has seen his Proper Maintenance of Land Bill passed into law under the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act.
The law change means that absent and rogue landlords who leave our high streets and heritage to rot have nowhere to hide.
The old law stated that these careless landlords could only be fined a maximum of £1,000 annually for neglecting a property or building, however under Jonathan's new law, this cap has been extended to unlimited and left for a judge to decide the most appropriate penalty. This could mean tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands or even millions of pounds they will have to pay for destroying the look of parts of our city.
Jonathan felt compelled to campaign for the change particularly in response to rogue and absent landlords plaguing Burslem and Tunstall high streets, as well as historically important sites like Price & Kensington.
He has also sought assurances that the changes will apply to residential properties and this has been confirmed by the government, a piece of great news for residents of the wider Stoke-on-Trent North community, especially in Smallthorne, Cobridge and Hanley.
Jonathan also continues to lobby Stoke-on-Trent City Council for tougher enforcement action on the landlords who own the dilapidated buildings at the top of High Street, Tunstall and looks forward to new powers introduced in this Bill being used.
When then Prime Minister, Boris Johnson backed the Bill, Jonathan said:
"I am delighted that the Prime Minister confirmed he is backing my Planning (Proper Maintenance of Land) Bill.
This was inspired by the rogue and absent landlords who plague our High Streets in Burslem and Tunstall, and bring ruin to our historically important buildings such as Price & Kensington Teapot Works in Longport.
New powers will see the currently capped £1000 fine lifted to unlimited, enabling these ruinous reprobates to be held accountable.
Thank you to Stoke-on-Trent City Council for their help and support in drafting this Bill, and to Historic England for promoting and backing it.
Lastly thank you to the people of Stoke-on-Trent North, Kidsgrove and Talke for your support.
We did it!"
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