A fire and rescue service is considering fining landlords for multiple false alarm calls raised by their tenants.
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service has considered a proposal which would mean landlords would be fined £290 plus VAT per attendance with charging commencing on the 10th false alarm call to the same premises within 12 months.
In a report considered by the service's overview and scrutiny committee, seven addresses were looked at - some social housing, some in the private rented sector. If charging was in place using the criteria set out above, between the period July 2013 to June 2014 inclusive the Leicestershire service would have received £24,360 in what it calls potential revenue.
The report states that in Leicester city centre, De Montfort House - a block of flats in Oxford Street, managed by a housing association - had its alarm sound 54 times in a year. Each time firefighters attended with up to two engines. The fire authority said if a fine was introduced it could bring in potential revenue of over £12,700 from that building alone.
London Fire Brigade started a fining regime in January this year, involving a warning letter being sent to any site producing five false alarms in a 12 month period; as with the Leicestershire proposal, charges begin from the 10th calls.
In the first four months of operation some 224 invoices were issued - not all to rented residential units - but with just 33 being paid.
The Leicestershire proposal, which has yet to be agreed, includes a reference in its supporting documentation, recognising that this may be extremely poor PR.
Two paragraphs on what it admits is the possible negative impact read:
i. Potential for negative media attention when charging for a Fire and Rescue Service resource. At present, Leicestershire FRS have, subject to call challenging, attend Automatic Fire Alarms without charging. A change in policy may be perceived negatively by business owners and members of the public.
ii. Any negative media may lead to confusion in the wider community when dialling 999. The perception may be that all calls to the Service may be chargeable.
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Comments
Does the Fire Service have the legal authority to impose fines at all
If so the actual amount
Well said Mandy.....this is a licence for tenants to seek revenge. If they fall out with LL they will just dial 999 and get LL fined. Its the tenant carrying out the illegal act not the LL. I bet Shelter will be backing this!!
Yes of course landlords should be fined - after all, are they not there to be surrogate parents, supervising their tenants like helpless naughty children and know their every single move 24/7 Tenant obviously needs to ask Landlord's permission before using the phone, especially before calling the emergency services.
Grow up, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service - try fining the perpetrators, the householders - aside from ensuring they pick decent tenants to begin with, how is this the landlord's concern Are they going to fine the mortgage company if the perpetrator is an owner occupier