NEWS
Fines and prosecutions Landlord prosecuted over ‘multiple’ safety breaches
DAVID GREENE was prosecuted for a range of fire safety breaches that were found in his property, under regulations for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). Birmingham City Council,
reporting on its prosecution of Mr Greene, stated that he had been letting a three storey property in Moseley which ‘included ten self-contained flats’. Upon investigation, the inspectors commented that it was the ‘worst property they had seen in the last 10 years’. Mr Greene, the council added, is an ‘established landlord’ who had owned the property since 1986, and as such ‘was aware’ of HMO regulations. It had ‘frequently contacted’
him to resolve the ‘poor conditions’ at the property, which ‘included those designed to protect tenants in the event of a fire’, but Mr Greene ‘neglected his responsibilities’, putting ‘in danger’ the lives of vulnerable tenants, ‘who relied on him to provide safe accommodation’. Despite Mr Greene claiming that he had ‘issues gaining
access to the flats’, the council’s officers found smoke detectors ‘hanging off the ceiling’, ‘ill fitting’ fire doors and blocked fire escape exits, while windows were boarded up and broken, and tenants had no access to hot water or heating. In addition, the front and rear doors were ‘insecure’, so the property was ‘open to the elements’. Birmingham Magistrates
Court prosecuted Mr Greene for ‘numerous’ breaches of the HMO Management Regulations, to which he had pleaded guilty.
He received a fine of £35,000 in addition to costs of £1,941 and a victim surcharge of £170. Commenting on the
prosecution, Sharon Thompson, cabinet member for homes and neighbourhoods at Birmingham City Council, said: ‘Mr Greene has shown a callous disregard for his responsibilities as a landlord. This fine sends out a message to all landlords who ignore the law that Birmingham City Council will pursue anyone who lets out substandard accommodation.’
Company given six figure fine over fire safety failures
A BUSINESS was prosecuted by Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS), as it had ‘put tenants’ lives at serious risk in the event of fire’. RBFRS reported on the
prosecution of Crestcourt Properties Ltd, owned by Philip Brotherton, after it had inspected his property in Waylen Street in Reading, which was a house in multiple occupation (HMO). On inspecting the house, officers ‘found a number of serious issues’, including failings such as fire alarms ‘not working’, a ‘lack of sufficient’ fire doors and an external escape route ‘in a poor state of repair’. The fire and rescue service,
through Royal Berkshire Fire Authority, took Mr Brotherton and the company to court, with
the company pleading guilty to four breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. As a consequence, the company was ordered to pay a fine of £177,000. Simon Jeffries, assistant chief
fire officer at RBFRS, commented: ‘Our priority is to ensure the safety of the people of Berkshire. We will always work with landlords to
12 OCTOBER 2018
www.frmjournal.com
maintain fire safety standards in premises and prosecution is the last resort. ‘However, we hope that the
significant level of this fine will send a clear message to all property owners that they have a duty to keep our communities safe and if they put anyone at risk by breaking the law, we won’t hesitate to prosecute.’
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