Industry news


Property manager and asbestos surveying company fined for inadequate refurbishment


A property management consultancy and an asbestos surveying company have been fined after an inadequate refurbishment and demolition survey was provided for a major refurbishment project including partial demolition. Dudley Magistrates’ Court heard the


survey undertaken by Home Inspectors Southern Limited failed to identify asbestos cement and asbestos insulating board (AIB) containing Chrysotile and Amosite asbestos. An investigation by the Health and Safety


Executive found the surveyor had no training in asbestos surveying or previous work experience with a suitably qualified person or accredited organisation. The survey incorrectly advised that a non- licensed contractor could be engaged to remove the large quantity of AIB identified. Home Inspectors Southern Limited were not asked for any information by Vital Property Solutions Limited to demonstrate their skills, knowledge, experience and training relating to asbestos surveying. Vital Property Solutions Limited of


Desborough Street, High Wycombe pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The company was fined £8,400 and ordered to pay costs of £929.67. Home Inspectors Southern Limited of


Hawthorn Close, Brighton pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £4,800 and ordered to pay costs of £929.67. Speaking after the hearing, HSE


inspector Edward Fryer said: “Asbestos surveyors have a duty of care to those persons who use the information they provide. The survey missed a significant amount of asbestos contaminated materials (ACM’s) thus increasing the risk to workers, who would be disturbing the fabric of the buildings during the refurbishment/demolition project. The risk arises from workers unknowingly working on ACM, and not taking effective precautions to prevent exposure and spread of asbestos fibres. Where surveyors fall well short of the standard then HSE will take robust action.”


investigators found to be in poor condition and had fire hazards. Allan Green, of Credenhill Road, London, was


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charged with failing to licence a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), failing to comply with regulations related to the management of the HMO and failing to respond to a formal request for information. Green was found guilty of all offences by Bath Magistrates and fined £24,000, ordered to pay prosecution costs of £1,860 and a victim surcharge of £170. The court heard Bath & North East Somerset


Council started investigations after receiving a complaint from a resident about the property. Officers found the property should have been licensed as a HMO because it is within the council’s Additional Licensing area and was occupied by three unrelated tenants who were sharing one or more amenity. The court heard that officers found the house to


be in a poor condition with a number of fire hazards, particularly related to the means of escape


12 | HMM July 2018 | www.housingmmonline.co.uk


Bath landlord has been fined £24,000 after failing to licence and manage a House in Multiple Occupation, which council


from the building. Green was asked to supply the latest gas and electrical test certificates to the council, but failed to do so and contact details for the HMO manager were not displayed in a prominent position within the property. The court heard the defendant also failed to co-


operate with the council or respond to a formal request for information. Council officers served schedules of works on Green but he failed to complete any of the remedial work and did not apply for a HMO licence. Councillor Paul Myers, the Cabinet Member for


Economic and Community Regeneration, said: “Our housing service always works in partnership with landlords to improve housing standards wherever possible. Additional licensing helps to ensure that occupants of HMOs are able to live in safe and well managed properties. “Where landlords fail to licence their properties


such as the case here, they are undermining the objectives of the additional licensing scheme and are putting the safety of their tenants at risk. This case shows our message is clear - landlords and letting agents operating outside the law will not be tolerated by Bath & North East Somerset Council.”


Landlord fined for failing to licence a Bath HMO


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