Haringey landlord fined over £23,000 for breaching HMO regulations
A London landlord has been fined for breaching fire safety regulations at a property in Haringey.
Mehmet Parlak, who owns Watchacre Properties Limited was fined at Highgate Magistrates Court last month.
The property on Markfield Road has not been licensed as a house of multiple occupation ( HMO) despite having multiple tenants.
An inspection at the property was carried out in August this year by an environmental health officer from the local authority. The investigator identified around 78 safety issues.
Cllr Nilgun Canver, Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: “Haringey Council is determined to clamp down on landlords who put profit above their tenants’ safety. Mr Parlak is associated with many properties which are used as HMOs and has been involved with this business for many years. There was no excuse for not licensing or for allowing properties to degenerate into such squalid conditions. The regulations exist to make sure that tenants who are not in a position to pick and choose where they live are protected from rogue landlords like this. A small fire in a property managed like this could lead to the utmost tragedy. I applaud the courts for taking this matter so seriously.”
Mr Parlak pleaded guilty to the charges against him and was fined £23,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,890.
Suspended sentence for fire safety breach landlord
A Lancashire landlord has been given a suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to breaching fire safety regulations.
Neal Gilligan, who is the owner of several properties in Lytham St Annes pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him at Preston Crown Court on 11th October.
Fire officers discovered the breaches after a fire broke out in one of the properties. It was found that an sufficient fire risk assessment had not been carried out and fire alarms, extinguishers and emergency lighting were not working properly.
Investigators discovered that all seven of Mr Gilligan’s properties were found to have serious fire safety failings.
The Judge at Preston Crown Court said: “It is a miracle no-one was injured or put in harm’s way,” said Susan Beech. “You showed a careless, if not wilful disregard for the safety and lives of your tenants, putting rental income before the safety of those whose rent you were only too keen to take. There is a need to send a clear message to others that disregard for important safety precautions, either once or over a prolonged period, will not go unmarked or unpunished.”
Hotel owners fined over £40,000 for fire safety breaches
The owners of a hotel in Bideford have been fined for breaching fire safety regulations after a large fire broke out in the early hours of 31st May 2011.
The company that operates Tantons Hotel, was fined around £40,000 and ordered to pay £10,000 costs at Exeter Crown Court, pleading guilty to five offences under The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
55 people were evacuated from the property, among those, four had to be rescued from the roof of the building by police and fire crews after becoming trapped by extreme heat and thick smoke.
It was found that the hotel had not maintained its fire alarm systems, it’s fire doors and fire risk assessment were inadequate and escape routes were blocked.
Graham Rooke from Bideford said: “The Judge gave a clear indication that a strong message needed to go out to those that manage and invest in hotels about the importance of fire safety. Had the finances of the company been in a stronger position, he would have considered fines of between £25,000 and £35,000 for each of the five offences.”
He added “Generally, the standards of accommodation within Devon and Somerset are very good. However, the Fire Authority believed that in this case, the fire safety breaches within the hotel were of such a serious nature that legal action was required. It is my firm belief that the actions of the on-scene emergency services and a member of the hotel staff undoubtedly saved lives that would have been lost. It is important that those people who are responsible for these types of properties understand the law regarding fire safety and what is required of them, and that they realise that any failings will be taken seriously by the service.”
Celebrity hairdresser fined £40,000 for fire safety breaches
A celebrity hairdresser whose clients list includes the Duchess of Cambridge, Tara Palmer Tompkinson and Pixi Geldof has been fined £40,000 after one of his stylists suffered third degree burns in a fire at his London salon in Conduit Street.
Stylist Gail Purcell received serious burns when her skirt was set alight by a decorative candle at the Daniel Hersheson salon in London.
It is believed that Ms Purcell was forced to run to various parts of the building trying to find water to put the fire out.
No fire alarm was activated during the incident and other staff members seemed to be unaware of how to deal with the fire. No first aid was given to Ms Purcell before paramedics arrived on the scene.
Ms Purcell was taken to Chelsea and Westminster hospital suffering from third degree burns.
London Fire Brigade carried out an inspection at the property where a number of serious safety concerns emerged.
They discovered that fire doors were propped open, corridors were blocked, fire alarms were not working properly and the fire risk assessment was insufficient.
Rudan Ltd, trading as Daniel Hersheson, pleaded guilty to two offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the company was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court and ordered to pay a fine of £10,000 for each of the two offences and £20,000 costs.
London Fire Brigades’s Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Fire Safety Regulation Lee Phillpotts said: ‘Business owners have a clear responsibility under fire safety law to ensure that both the public and their employees are safe from the risk of fire. This verdict sends a clear message that if these responsibilities are ignored we will not hesitate in prosecuting and serious penalties are likely to be imposed. People should always be extremely careful when using candles. You should never leave them unattended and keep them well away from any flammable materials.’
Manchester off-license owner fined over £22,000 for breaching fire safety regulations
The owner of an off-licence in Greater Manchester has been fined over £22,000 for breaching fire safety regulations. The fine is the largest ever fine issued in the area for fire safety breaches.
The owner, Tahair Mahmood Arif was found guilty of 9 offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 at Manchester Crown Court.
Inspectors visited the property in April 2011 and discovered that fire escape routes were locked with huge piles of rubbish, there were no fire alarms and a hall way was used to store a huge amount of combustible material. Windows had also been fitted with metal shutters.
Inspectors later discovered that despite the notice, Mr Arif was still using the property.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Peter O’Reilly, Director of Prevention and Protection said: “By ignoring fire safety, Mr Arif placed the lives of his workers and others staying on the premises at risk. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service works hard to educate businesses about their responsibilities, however, it is the responsibility of the business to comply with the law. Mr Arif chose to ignore our notices, and I am pleased that the court has recognised that this disregard for safety is a very serious matter. We will continue to prosecute cases where businesses put profit over safety and I hope this sends a clear message to others.”
Mr Arif was fined £22,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4,195 and a £15 victim surcharge.