Residential Landlord - In brief
Added 26.06.09
Landlord fined for breaching fire safety laws
A Kent Landlord has been prosecuted by the county’s Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) for failing to ensure adequate fire safety measures were in place.
Jawid Sied of Northdown Road, Cliftonville, appeared at Margate Magistrates Court recently following the issue of an Article 31 - prohibition of use of the premises notice - in October 2007.
It related to his use of a property as a house of multiple occupancy (HMO) without suitable and sufficient fire safety measures, and his failure to comply with the requirements of the notice.
Sied pleaded guilty to contravening Article 31 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and was ordered to pay a total of £1,550.
KFRS’s Head of Technical Fire Safety, John Pereira said: “We welcome the size of the penalty as this sends a message to landlords across the county that they must take fire safety seriously or we will prosecute them.
“We are currently working with Mr Sied to ensure the property in question is brought up to the required standards.”
Student house had no licence
Failing to get a licence for his student house has resulted in a Durham landlord being fined £1,200 for breaching the Housing Act 2004. He was also ordered to pay a £15 surcharge and £130 in costs.
Durham County Council prosecuted the landlord after he failed to provide information on a three-storey home in The Avenue, Durham, known to be home to six students.
He had applied to licence other shared student properties in the city but failed to do so on this occasion, despite several warnings from the local council.
The tenants are said to be considering applying to reclaim their rent for the period in which the property was unlicensed.
The landlord pleaded guilty at a hearing at Consett Magistrates’ Court.
Joanne Waller, the council’s head of environment, health and consumer protection, said “We don’t pursue prosecutions lightly but if the health, safety and well-being of occupants are put at risk because landlords refuse to operate within licensing guidelines, we actively seek prosecution in line with our enforcement policy. It’s important that landlords understand the full implications of not obtaining a licence.”
News feed courtesy of Residential Landlord