A property management firm is facing a huge fine of nearly £28,000 for allowing a fire escape route at an HMO to be blocked by a shipping container.

A back gate was found padlocked and an exit route shut off by the large container after an inspection by housing officials in Liverpool.

A resident at the property in Belmont Drive, Kensington, complained to the local council prompting an inspection.

Disrepair

Nine fire doors were found to be in disrepair and holes and gaps were also found in the floor and walls of several rooms, compromising fire safety.

Newsham Park Estates Ltd pleaded guilty to four breaches of the Management of House of Multiple Occupancy (HMO) Regulations 2006 due to serious issues with tenant safety.

Defective

At a sentencing hearing at Wirral Magistrates Court, the firm was fined £27,900, made up of £4,500 for the padlocked gate, £4,500 relating to the shipping container, £10,800 for the defective fire doors, and £8,100 because of the holes/gaps in the property.

With costs and a victim surcharge included, this totalled £32,694 payable by the company.

The property has since been reinspected and the issues that were identified have been remedied.

Take action

Louise Harford, Interim Director of Housing at Liverpool City Council, says: “This case demonstrates clearly that we will investigate and take action when there is clear evidence that landlords are not meeting their legal responsibilities.

The fine sends out a really strong message to landlords who are not complying.”

“The action we have taken means tenants in this property are now living in much safer conditions, and the fine that has been issued sends out a really strong message to landlords who are not complying,” she says.

“We would encourage tenants who have concerns about disrepair and poor conditions to contact us, so that we can look into the issues and see if an offence is being committed.”

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Picture: Liverpool City Council