A letting agent has been left with a bill of £6,000 for using Islington Council’s name and logo in its publicity without permission, falsely claiming that it worked with the council to provide social housing.

Wentworth Housing Ltd, trading as Wentworth Estates, was taken to court by the council for publishing the claims on its website and using the council logo without asking, to imply it had the council’s endorsement.

The firm had admitted the offences in 2016 and was issued with a simple caution, but failed to remove the claims and logo from its website. In a rare move and following another complaint in September 2017, the council decided to bring a prosecution.

Late last month the firm was found guilty of two offences and fined £1,200 in total – £600 per offence – and ordered to pay full costs of £4,800.