June 20, 2011
A landlord, who pleaded guilty to five breaches of the Fire Safety Order (2005), has been ordered to pay £5,500 in fines and an additional £2,400 in costs after prosecution at York Crown Court this May.
Landlord Ewan McFerren was using a Scarborough property as an unlicensed HMO (House of Multiple Occupation) when a serious fire brought to light his illegal activities.
Fire investigators found he had failed to take general fire precautions and that there was an inadequate fire risk assessment, as well as a lack of fully functioning fire alarm and fire detection system within the badly damaged property.
The court also heard how Mr McFerren failed to maintain general fire provisions and inform tenants about fire safety procedures.
“The fire and rescue service’s decision to prosecute was not taken lightly and this measure is only taken in the most serious cases,” said Karen Galloway, prosecuting.
“The responsible person is always in a position of authority; their lack of actions should have been foreseeable to prevent, in the event of fire, persons being put at risk of death or injury.
“The contraventions in this case were serious and would have continued had the fire authority and Scarborough Borough Council not acted immediately by serving a prohibition notice on the responsible person.”
Landlords are now being advised to make sure their properties meet all responsibilities under the Fire Safety Order (2005) before it’s too late.
