Estate Agent recieves Large Fine For Fire Safety Breaches
Assim Estate Agent Ltd have been fined and ordered to pay £50,000. The company pleaded guilty of fire safety breaches at St Albans Magistrates Court.
Nick Pace, executive member for housing and community at the council, commented that “This is one of the largest fines we have seen for this type of offence”
After the Landlord informed Council Inspectors in 2017 that the plans for the property were for it to be either sold or let. A later Council Officer Inspection of the property in early July 2018 found it being used as a HMO, housing five seperate Tenants. The Estate Agent fined have refused to comment.
Council Officers inspecting the poroperty found it to be in breach of inadequate:
- fire detection and alarms in communal areas
- interlinked fire detection to the rest of the property
- satisfactory means of escape
Furher breaches included no fire blankets, poor lighting and inadequate window handles in any of the communal areas and occupied Tenant bedrooms.
A later inspection of the property in late July 2018 found ‘no work had been carried out to improve’ any of the breaches previously found.
On top of the £45,000 fine, the Estate Agent were further ordered to pay nearly £5,000 in court fees and an additional victim surcharges.
Nick Pace added, “the fine indicates the seriousness of this case and sends out a clear message, that we do not compromise the safety of tenants.”
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