The landlord of a residential home in Northampton has been fined GB pound 20,000 for breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order following a fire at the premises last August.
Mark Henderson Badenoch pleaded guilty to four charges under the Order as the responsible person for the premises, which was being used as a house in multiple occupation for residents with learning difficulties.
The offences included not having a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment; inadequate smoke sealing on a door resulting in the second floor escape route becoming smoke logged; inadequate fire alarm repair arrangements; and the fire alarm not being in good working order. He was fined GB pound 5000 on each count and ordered to pay GB pound 1955.85 costs. The magistrate said that the consequences for the vulnerable residents could have been dreadful and that each of the charges was equally serious. The magistrate added that had it not been for Henderson Badenoch’s early guilty plea, willingness to comply with the fire service investigation and subsequent compliance with an enforcement notice, the case would have been serious enough to refer to the Crown Court.
“This case clearly demonstrates the seriousness of how breaches in fire safety legislation are viewed,” said Baz Fox, head of fire protection at Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue. “Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service operate a proactive risk based inspection programme in HMOs in partnership with the County environmental health officers. We are totally committed to driving down risk in high risk premises and applying the law to help ensure the safety of our community.”
Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue said it completed 875 inspections of HMOs totalling 1417 hours during the year April 2007 to March 2008.
