4th
Sep 2016
A Grimsby Landlord has been slapped with a custodial sentence and a £100,000 fine for seriously endangering his tenants’ lives.
The Judge Peter Kelston QC was damning when he told the landlord that he was “wholly money-orientated” by “cutting corners” and that he put his tenant’s lives at serious risk when the fire alarms failed to go off in the property, which could have resulted in fatalities.
The HMO property was engulfed by flames two years ago which was caused by a dropped cigarette butt and the tenants had to run for their lives.
The landlord admitted that he had not carried out a ‘fit for purpose’ fire risk assessment, he also pleaded guilty in not installing general fire precautions as the property did not contain correctly working fire detectors.
The house in multiple occupation did not have any self-closing fire doors and any doors failed to be wedged open.
The landlord received a five month sentence as well as a £100,000 fine and ordered to pay the tenants compensation of £4,200. This is not the first time that the landlord has received a custodial sentence and the resultant fine must be paid within 18 months which may mean that he will have to sell some of this properties.
At Grimsby Crown Court Judge Peter Kelson QC, said: “This case demonstrates how quickly fire spreads and how dangerous it is.
“Whatever he did do was woefully inadequate and a failure to appreciate sufficiently the fire risks.
“You put your wealth before your tenants' welfare. You did not carry out fire assessments.
“You never took advice from a fire safety expert. You put wealth before welfare.
“You were corner-cutting, just as you were with electrical work.
“It's only by the actions of residents that they all got out alive. It's a matter of sheer good fortune.”
The judge concluded by saying: “You are a man consumed by putting your own finances before the safety of your tenants.
"You were trying to protect your profits. I can't believe a word you say about your finances.
"You are a landlord who is more concerned with your wealth than your tenants' welfare. You're putting profit before safety.
"You have deliberately cut corners to increase your profits. Nothing is ever straightforward with you."
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