The owner of a vacant office building in Peterlee, County Durham, has been fined £48,000 after nine individuals were discovered sleeping inside the premises during a fire safety inspection.
Concerns were raised with County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service that the “derelict” Ridgemount House, located on Bede Way, was being occupied. Fire safety officers carried out a late-night inspection and found nine men sleeping on the third floor of the building.

During the visit, officers identified several serious fire safety breaches which placed relevant persons at risk of death or serious injury in the event of a fire. These included:

• Failure to undertake a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment
• Failure to provide appropriate fire detection and alarm systems
• Failure to ensure emergency routes and exits were kept clear
• Inadequate emergency lighting
• Insufficient fire-resisting doors

Durham Crown Court heard that, following the inspection, County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service contacted the director of 5th Capital Limited, the building’s owner. It was established that the nine individuals found on the premises had been working at another property in the Peterlee area, also owned by the same director.

The director pleaded guilty to eight offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

At sentencing on 24 February, the defendant was ordered to pay a £48,000 fine within 12 months or face imprisonment. He was also ordered to pay £45,711.48 in costs.

Director Ben Cairns from County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service has welcomed the outcome of this case.

“In 2022, we were informed by the Health and Safety Executive of concerns that people were sleeping at Ridgemont House,” said Cairns. “Our primary aim is to keep the people of County Durham and Darlington safe from fire. Our specialist fire safety officers attended the premises. The breaches of fire safety legislation they discovered were so serious that there was an immediate risk posed to life. As such, the inspecting officers immediately prohibited the use of the building.”

Cairns continued: “In this case, there was a serious disregard for fire safety and the risk to life was so serious that it was in the public interest to pursue prosecution. While it has taken an extended period of time to reach this point, I welcome the outcome of the legal process as this demonstrates our commitment to keeping the people of Durham and Darlington safe.”

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service urges all property managers and landlords to ensure compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 at all times and to act promptly on risk assessments and Enforcement Notices.

This case highlights the critical importance of complying with fire safety legislation, particularly where premises are vacant but remain accessible or are being used for accommodation. Responsible Persons must ensure that appropriate fire safety measures are in place at all times to protect life and meet their legal obligations under the Fire Safety Order.

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