Landlord Fined £4,000 after Tenant Flees Buy to Let Blaze

Landlord Fined £4,000 after Tenant Flees Buy to Let Blaze

17:14 PM, 7th December 2011, About 13 years ago 1

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A landlord was fined £4,000 for failing to carry out fire safety work at a rental property after a tenant had to flee to safety from a blaze.

Islington Council had already served Nadia Boujema an improvement notice ordering the fitting of fire detection equipment at the home near The Angel, North London.

But magistrates heard he did not comply with the order and a fire broke out at the property.
The tenant escaped after a neighbour raised the alarm.

Boujema was ordered to pay £4,000 fines and £1,200 costs.

London Fire Brigade commander for Islington Rhys Powell said: “London Fire Brigade and the council are committed to keeping people in the borough safe and this verdict sends out a clear message that if landlords ignore fire safety then they will face serious penalties.”

The case was one of several brought to court by Islington Council against private landlords who “fail to provide safe and acceptable quality accommodation.”

Two other cases involved families living in separate homes badly affected by untreated damp, leading to fines of more than £2,000 for each landlord.

Councillor James Murray, executive member for housing, Islington Council said: “We believe everyone in Islington has the right to a decent home.

“In the week that we are announcing new guidance on fire safety on our estates, this prosecution further underlines just how importantly we take our responsibilities to residents’ health and safety.

“Where landlords don’t follow the rules, we’ll take them to court – private landlords who are not providing an acceptable standard of accommodation should take warning from these prosecutions.”

Meanwhile, landlord Paul Piasecki admitted failing to obtain a house in multiple occupation licence for a property he let covered by a selective licensing scheme at James Street, Easington Colliery, Durham.

He was fined £700 by Peterlee magistrates and ordered to pay £345 costs.


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9:14 AM, 13th December 2011, About 13 years ago

I have no sympathy whatsoever for landlords who fail to keep their properties in a good state of repair and comply with current safety standards, They give all of us, who are doing our level best to provide accommodation of a good standard, a bad name

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