Serious fine for Birmingham landlord of HMO who neglected fire alarm servicing
A Birmingham landlord of an HMO admitted he ‘didn’t care’ about the flats he rented out, nor his dire fire alarm servicing record.
Mr Jabbar Khalid appeared in court in September last year and admitted his guilt to all the charges brought against him. He was fined over £3,800 for a litany of fire safety breaches and a failure to obtain an HMO licence.
Officers from Birmingham City Council had visited his property to assess it for a licence and discovered that the flat was highly neglected. The council officers uncovered a string of fire safety hazards, including:
No fire blankets in the kitchens
The fire alarm panel had malfunctioned
Smoke detectors did not work or had parts missing
Poorly fitted fire doors
Fire doors missing thumb-turn locks which inflates risk of entrapment
The attitude of the landlord is particularly worrying in this case. As Birmingham City Council cabinet member for housing and homes, Cllr Peter Griffiths said, “Khalid admitted to my officers that he didn’t care about the property and he did not take any responsibility for ensuring the safety and comfort of his tenants.” This type of attitude makes fire safety breaches far more likely – and increases the chance of lives lost.
Why do landlords need HMO licences?
HMO is short for ‘house of multiple occupation’. If you’re a landlord and your property is rented to more than three tenants, forming more than one household, it’s described as an HMO. What’s more, it’s possible to have a ‘large HMO’. This is a property with three storeys (or more) and at least five tenants living in more than one household.
It’s important that you understand these definitions because your local authority uses them to determine local licensing regulations. Fire safety regulations in the private rented sector are covered by an HMO licence. The licence will clarify how you’re expected to mitigate any fire hazards. There is no single set of standards for HMO licensing (although all large HMOs are subject to mandatory licensing). All local authorities approach it according to their own policies.
For example, a council in one area may require you to install fire alarms and fire extinguishers and service them at regular intervals. But a council in another area will tell you not do this; indeed some councils will ask landlords to remove fire-fighting equipment. They would prefer tenants and anyone else in the building to prioritise escape over attempting to control a blaze.
So, if you’re a landlord with HMOs in your property portfolio, we recommend that you always get in touch with your local housing team. They will visit your property and explain what you need to do.
A FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT IS ALSO REQUIRED FOR HMO's - must be completed by competent person.
CONTACT:- www.agilefiresafety.com for a professional Fire Risk Assessment
