Two landlords in Liverpool have received fines due to breaching a number of fire safety regulations, as well as running unlicensed and unsafe houses.
One case saw Owen Gwynfor Hughes ordered to pay £1,350 in fines and costs for letting out a multiple occupancy house without a licence.
The property on Bentley Road, Princes Park was also not provided with a fire alarm.
Mr Hughes denied complicity, saying that he worked away from home and rented out rooms in his six bedroom property in order to contribute towards the mortgage.
District Judge Wendy Lloyd who was presiding over the case acknowledged his defence, but insisted that once he started operating his home like a business he had to comply with the law, especially when it concerned the safety of others.
Meanwhile, Azim Kibria of Hartington Road, Toxteth was also charged with letting an unlicensed property, which was too found to have fire safety issues as well.
The 10-bedroom property in Croxteth had exposed floor joists, floors and doors that would not be able to stand up against fire, a gap in the kitchen ceiling that posed a fire risk and there was no handrail on the staircase to the basement, which increased the likelihood of someone falling.
He was subsequently fined £1,200 and ordered to pay costs of £1,240 to the council by District Judge Lloyd.
You are 16 times more likely to die in a fire in properties like these than you are in a single family home which is why it is essential that there are adequate fire precautions.
Commercial buildings, non-domestic and multi-occupancy premises in England and Wales are already forced to undertake a 'suitable and sufficient' fire risk assessment carried out under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
The Responsible Person can face an unlimited fine or up to two years in prison.
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