Landlord fined £400K by court after safety failings in properties

A landlord in Lincoln has been fined £404,886.90 for 28 individual cases of fire and health & safety offences in two of his residential properties, resulting in one of the largest financial penalties ever handed out to an individual landlord in Britain.

Serious fire and safety breaches

Smoke detectors were broken, there were inappropriate locks on fire exits and a lack of fire separation and protection between flats. There were several instances of windows with low sills having broken latches or no opening restrictors on the top floor flats.

Communal areas and stairwells also showed no sign of emergency lighting and much of the general lighting throughout the property did not work when tested.

Risk of exposure to Legionella

In one flat a hot water supply tank was not sealed with a lid, exposing the occupants to the risk of vermin, insects and infectious organisms such as Legionella.

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This recent prosecution reinforces the importance of having a robust fire and safety risk management process in place, in order to protect residents and avoid costly fines. To find out how we can help you achieve cost effective compliance, call us on 02392 984 447.