Four Landlords banned for life after Severe Housing Offences
30 June 2025
Four landlords have been added to the Database of Rogue Landlords.
As a result of legal action by West Northamptonshire Council, Dimitrii Viconschi of Salisbury Street, Northampton; Karlis Cernihs of Wycliffe Road, Northampton; Vadims Oblivoks of Selwyn Road, London; and Aleksejs Cugurovs of Stanley Street, Northampton will no longer be able to act as landlords or have any involvement in the managing or letting of rented accommodation anywhere in England.
The addition follows the Council obtaining a Banning Order under the Housing and Planning Act 2016, barring them for life from being the landlord of private rented accommodation, or acting as a letting agent, after they were prosecuted for serious breaches of housing legislation.
Lifetime banning orders, granted under the Housing and Planning Act 2016, are rare and demonstrate the Council’s commitment to protecting tenants and improving housing standards.
The Council’s Private Sector Housing Team, led by Christopher Stopford, uncovered a rent-to-rent scheme where the offenders leased properties and illegally sublet them as Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) without licences.
The homes were in poor condition, with serious safety and maintenance issues, including:
- Lack of fire safety measures and means of escape
- Inadequate maintenance of living spaces and communal areas
- Failure to maintain water supply and drainage
- Absence of waste disposal facilities
- Failure to provide required documentation
These conditions posed serious risks to tenants’ health and safety.
The decision was handed down by the First Tier Tribunal after a virtual hearing on 3 April this year, following extensive investigations. Susan Desfontaines, of the West Northamptonshire In-house legal team, was the solicitor with conduct and advocate for the banning order hearing.
The four were previously prosecuted in 2024 for operating unlicensed and non-compliant Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) across Northampton.
“This outcome sends a clear message that we will not tolerate landlords who put profit before people.Cllr Charlie Hastie, Cabinet Member for Housing
“We are committed to protecting tenants and ensuring that all rental properties meet the legal standards for safety and quality.”