Michael Hassall – a Harrogate-based landlord – has been served with a fine for over £8,000 after tenants had to escape his property during a serious fire.
Two of Mr Hassall’s tenants were affected by the fire, which started in a ground floor bedroom and rapidly spread to the hallway, and a subsequent safety investigation identified that no fire detectors had been fitted to alert tenants in the event of a fire.
Due to the lack of prior warning, one of the tenants had no option but to escape from an upstairs window.
The doors used to access the property’s internal rooms were also discovered to be below the required standard for fire safety regulations.
Though nobody sustained serious injuries, two of the property’s neighbours, who made efforts to put the fire out, were later treated for smoke inhalation at hospital.
Magistrates at Harrogate Magistrates’ Court heard that Mr Hassall had not fulfilled his duty of care after failing to ensure suitable fire safety precautions were taken at the property in question.
During sentencing the magistrates said: “Even though there was confusion around whether the premises was a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), the defendant still had a duty of care and responsibility for the safety of tenants in that property.”
The landlord pleaded guilty to two offences of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and was fined a total of £8205.74, including prosecution costs and a £120 victim surcharge.