NEWS
Fines and prosecutions Record fine imposed on Lincoln landlord
BIJAN KESHMIRI was prosecuted for fire safety breaches at six flats across two separate properties, in what is ‘believed to be one of the biggest financial penalties’ for an individual UK landlord. The Lincolnite reported on
the prosecution of Mr Keshmiri over failure to comply with fire, health and safety standards at two properties in the city. One of these had four self contained flats on Rosemary Lane, while the other was converted into two self contained flats in Spa Buildings. Both properties were used as houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) to house 12 tenants in Rosemary Lane and six at Spa Buildings, with all 18 residents of East Timorese origin. Firstly, the Rosemary Lane building had breaches including broken smoke detectors, ‘inappropriate’ locks on fire exits, ‘poorly made’ repairs that ‘could increase the spread of fire’, and a ‘lack’ of fire separation and protection between the flats. Due to ‘years of neglect’, living spaces had been ‘rendered not cleanable’, while a first floor flat had a risk of ‘electrocution from a light’, and several instances of windows with low sills that had broken latches or opening restrictors, on the top floor. This meant that ventilation was
‘uncontrolled’ and residents were at risk of falling out of a window,
while a third floor flat’s hot water supply tank was not sealed with a lid, exposing occupants to ‘the risk of vermin, insects and infectious organisms entering the water’. Finally, there was no emergency lighting in communal areas or the stairwell, and standard lighting on staircases and landings did not work in testing. The Spa Buildings property had doors sealed shut ‘preventing fire exits’, a lack of fire separation, no smoke alarms in the ground floor flat and no fire blanket in the kitchen, while black mould was ‘prevalent’ throughout the property. City of Lincoln Council took Mr Keshmiri to court, where after being found guilty of 28 offences, he was ordered to pay £404,886 in fines and costs. This was ‘one of the biggest financial penalties ever handed out for an
individual rogue landlord case in Britain’.
Ric Metcalfe, leader of City of Lincoln Council, said: ‘This prosecution sends out a clear signal that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated in our city. It’s pleasing to see justice has been served against this offender who has, time and time again, exploited his tenants by making them live in appalling conditions, surrounded by many fire and health hazards. ‘Many landlords in Lincoln offer
properties of a high standard, but to those who don’t, we hope that a fine of this scale will deter them from putting their tenants in such danger. I would like to thank the Legal and Private Housing teams at City of Lincoln Council for all of their hard work on this case and in ensuring such a significant outcome.’
Landlord prosecuted over ‘unsafe’ former pub
HAYDEN ROGERS, who ‘didn’t bother to turn up to court’, was fined after the former pub was illegally let as a house in multiple occupation (HMO). Daily Post reported on the
prosecution of Mr Rogers over the Old Quay House in Connah’s Quay, which used to be a pub but had been run as an HMO ‘with no licence’. An inspection of the property last year saw around 40 tenants removed from the ‘unsafe’ property, which had fire safety issues including ‘missing smoke and heat detectors’,
inadequate fire escapes and out of date extinguishers, alongside electrical defects, overloaded sockets and poor heating. The ‘appalling conditions’
were notable ‘regardless of any improvements made since the initial inspection’. Flintshire Council prosecuted Mr Rogers despite his absence, and the case went ‘ahead without him’. At court, he was convicted of not having an HMO licence, and was fined £2,000 alongside £1,000 for each of his 11 breaches of the regulations. With
12 SEPTEMBER 2018
www.frmjournal.com
these fines and the council and court’s costs, he was fined a total of £15,633.
Chris Bithell, the council’s cabinet
member for planning and public protection, stated: ‘This is another positive result – a successful prosecution of a landlord in the private rented sector who has not complied with the required legal standards. It reflects Flintshire Council’s commitment to ensuring homes in the private rented sector are in good repair and have all the necessary amenities.’
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