Community service sentence for fire safety breach landlord

A landlord who pleaded guilty to five offences under fire safety legislation has been ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid community service.

Esther Bartlett, of Plymstock, was also ordered to pay a total of £6,929 in costs by Plymouth Magistrates Court on 19 April.

The service was alerted to suspected breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order by a housing officer in June 2009. An audit was then carried out and the residents told to move out of the flats the same day, after it was found the premises did not have adequate fire alarms, firefighting equipment or emergency lighting.

Station manager Alan Bowers said: “We are pleased at the outcome of this case as Mrs Bartlett had put the lives of many people at risk. We do not take this level of action very often, but when we do, it is on premises where there is a serious and imminent threat to life from fire.”

In the same week, another landlord was sentenced at Plymouth Magistrates Court and ordered to pay £2,549 in costs and a fine of £3,500.

Philip Penprase pleaded guilty to three offences under the Fire Safety Order on 22 April, following investigations at his property in the Stoke area of Plymouth in June 2009.

Commenting on the case, Mr Bowers said: “Our inspection programme specifically concentrates on sleeping risks across the Plymouth area. It is important that those people who are responsible for these types of properties understand the law regarding fire safety and what is required of them, and that they realise that any failings will be taken seriously by Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority.”