Olivier fined for breach of housing law

Former Hollyoaks In The City star Philip Olivier has been fined £20,000 after being caught breaching housing regulations.

The soap star was also made to pay £250 in costs after being convicted under new laws which require landlords of three storey houses, or houses with five or more unrelated people living in them, to register with the local authority.

The actor, who has starred in Brookside, Hollyoaks: In The City and the reality TV series The Games, didn't attend the hearing at Liverpool Magistrates Court and had nobody represent him.

A council spokesman told the Yorkshire Post: "The legislation was introduced following recent Government research that showed people living in these types of property are 16 times more likely to die or be injured in fire than people living in a single occupancy house.

"In some areas in Liverpool this risk increases to 30 times and the law is designed to raise standards."

The court was told that Olivier did not own the property but that he was the landlord and received rent payments. The house has reportedly since been sold.