Scarborough landlord fined for fire safety breaches in flats
The landlord of a block of flats in Scarborough has been fined more than £5,500 after breaching fire safety regulations and putting his tenants in danger.
Ewan McFerren pleaded guilty of five breaches of the Fire Safety Order (2005) in York Crown Court recently, and was subsequently fined £5,500 and ordered to pay court costs of £2,400.
The charges related to a block of flats on New Queen Street in Scarborough, in which fire safety investigators found a catalogue of failures.
An adequate risk assessment had not been carried out, fire alarms and fire detection systems were either absent or were not functioning and tenants had not been given the proper information about fire safety procedures. Mr McFerren had also failed to maintain general fire provisions and take basic precautions, thereby putting his tenants’ lives in danger.
Richard Hanley, from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, commented on the case, saying:
“The conviction of Mr McFerren on this matter shows how seriously the fire authority and the courts view those who put the safety of others at risk in the event of a fire.”
As the landlord of a House in Multiple Occupancy (HMO), there is a responsibility to adhere to all fire safety regulations and take steps to protect tenants against the risk of fire. This why fire safety training is recommended for landlords as well as business owners, so that these responsibilities can be adequately met.