A landlord has been fined £1,300 and ordered to pay £2,290 costs after officials found a list of safety breaches at a property in Walton, Liverpool.
An Environmental Health Officer inspected the property after a tenant complained that the gas supply had been disconnected.
The inspection found that there were no mains wired smoke detectors anywhere in the building. Battery operated smoke detectors in the bedrooms were not working.
Fire doors were damaged and either ill-fitting or did not close properly and would not provide the 30 minutes protection to allow tenants to escape in the event of fire.
There was a significant amount of rubbish and clutter in various areas of the property, including staircases, which posed a fire hazard and obstructed fire escape routes.
A leak to the water supply directly above the electrical distribution board in the basement posed a serious risk of fire and that there was a hole in the wall of the first floor mezzanine storage room which had been filled with combustible material.
The environmental health officer was unsuccessful in attempts to contact the landlord regarding fire alarms, so arranged for the fire service to fit battery operated smoke alarms as an interim measure.
Jeffrey Grant admitted 13 housing offences at Liverpool Magistrates Court.
Councillor Ann O'Byrne, cabinet member for housing, said: It was clear to us that this property had been mismanaged for longer than a year, and although I appreciate that Mr Grant may have financial and personal problems, it is no excuse for putting people's lives in danger.
It is extremely fortunate that there wasn't a fire or the consequences could have been dire. Our message is if you can't manage your property, sell it or put it in the hands of someone who can manage it properly. People have a right to expect the property they rent is safe.
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Comments
Regardless of whether or not smoke alarms are compulsory - and as Stonehenge points out, in this case they probably were - he was still putting his tenants in severe danger with his mismanagement.
"There was a significant amount of rubbish and clutter in various areas of the property, including staircases, which posed a fire hazard and obstructed fire escape routes." And "A leak to the water supply directly above the electrical distribution board in the basement posed a serious risk of fire and that there was a hole in the wall of the first floor mezzanine storage room which had been filled with combustible material."
They sound like good enough reasons to fine him, wouldn't you say
I think you will find this an HMO; the clue is that fire doors are mentioned, which are also not a normal requirement in an AST contract, but recommended.
Smoke alarms are not compulsory so why has he been fined for this