Businessman Convicted for Lack of Fire Risk Assessment For a Property

A Businessman was convicted and fined £1,000 for five breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. He was also ordered to pay £5,000 costs plus a victim surcharge of £52, totaling £6,052.

The Businessman rented the property from its owner and went on to sublet it to four individual tenants, without addressing the necessary Fire Safety improvements required by law for a House in Multiple Occupation.

Fire Inspectors visited the property following a complaint concerning the lack of Fire Safety precautions. The inspectors identified several breaches including:

• Apparent lack of a Fire Risk Assessment for the Building
• Inadequate Fire detection and alarm system – several smoke alarms were found in a kitchen drawer!
• The bedroom doors were inadequate and there were no provisions for self-closing devices.
• No window escape from the First Floor
• No portable Firefighting equipment was provided
• Inadequate testing and maintenance of the Fire alarm system and Emergency lighting.

The Businessman ignored an Enforcement Notice, which resulted in legal proceedings.

The Fire and Rescue Service stated “Landlords should recognise that they have a legal responsibility to ensure that any facilities they provide for their tenants have a suitable and sufficient Fire Risk Assessment in place and that it is reviewed regularly… The public should continue to be reassured that legal action will be used when necessary where serious breaches of Fire Safety regulations are identified.”

London Fire Risk Assessments advice to customers: If you are a Landlord it is your responsibility to carry out a Fire Risk Assessment for your Building. If you haven’t got one  - get one or you could be making a very costly mistake.

Tenants – if the Fire Risk Assessment is not on site ask to see it before you sign your contract – there should be a Fire Emergency Plan in London displayed too. It’s your Landlords responsibility to keep you safe from the effects of Fire. If you are unsure and need some advice call us now on 01689 890879 we have a friendly team waiting to help.