A landlord in Coventry has been handed a £3,350 fine after a house in multiple occupation under his ownership was found to lack fire safety measures.

Mr Junie Liu pleaded guilty to six offences under the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006 following an inspection at the property.

Coventry City Council visited the property after receiving a complaint about its condition.

Inspectors found that there were four tenants living there, but the owner had not taken appropriate precautions around fire safety. 

Craig Hickin, Coventry City Council’s Head of Environmental Services, said: “Houses in multiple occupation, such as bedsits and shared houses, often have poorer physical and management standards than other privately rented properties.

“The people who live in them are often amongst the most vulnerable and disadvantaged members of society. This type of accommodation is the only housing option for many people, it is therefore vital that they are properly regulated.

Original source

Coventry Telegraph

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.

While the overwhelming majority of premises do this, if the assessment is thought to have been carried out to an insufficient extent, the Responsible Person can face an unlimited fine or up to two years in prison.