Following breaches of fire safety regulations a landlord from Bury has been fined £17,000 and orders to pay Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service £2,223 in costs and a £120 victim surcharge following a hearing on June 2 2014 at Bury and Rochdale Magistrates Court.

Mr Khan pleaded guilty of five offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 at a house of multiple occupancy in Bury.

Amongst the breaches

• Combustibles stored in the hall an don landings, which would have helped a fire take hold and spread quicker
• The fire alarm was faulty and switched off
• A battery operated smoke detector was situated incorrectly and could not be heard in the bedsits
• Holes in the ceilings meant fire would have spread quicker
• No fire doors were present
• A lack of emergency lighting

Apparently Mr Khan had not realised the house was classified as a house of multiple occupancy, but he did accept that the property was inadequate.

Mr Khan was fined £3,400 for each offence.  The property has since had works carried out.

GMFRS commented “The cost of making this property safe would have been a fraction of the cost Mr Khan has to pay now, and he has a criminal record”

This surely must come as a warning to landlords and premises owners that ignorance of the Reform Order will no longer be tolerated as a reason or excuse for failings.