A landlord in Scarborough has pleaded guilty to eight breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Lazlo Banki appeared at Scarborough Magistrates Court on 8 November charged with eight contraventions of the Order.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (NYFRS) looked at Mr Banki’s property, an unlicensed HMO, in March this year following a complaint. Among the fire safety failings found in the building’s flats, tenants were not provided with adequate means of escape, a fire alarm, fire detection system or an emergency lighting system.
The tenants were immediately rehoused by the council and a thorough investigation was carried out over the next 24 hours. It was decided that the failings were so severe it would go straight to court, NYFRS’s station manager told info4fire.
The case has now been committed to York Crown Court for sentencing next month.
Karen Galloway, prosecuting, said: “The fire service’s decision to prosecute was not taken lightly and this measure is only taken in the most serious cases.
“The contraventions in this case were serious and would have continued had the Fire Authority and Scarborough Borough Council not acted immediately by serving a prohibition notice on the responsible person.”
The property, at 86 North Marine Road, has now been sold and is under redevelopment.
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