A Birmingham landlord has been landed a huge £25k fine by Birmingham City Council following a host of fire safety offences being discovered at a property under his ownership.

Anthony Freeman pleaded guilty to failure to obtain a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Licence and numerous breaches of the HMO Management Regulations.

He was fined £25,000 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £170 and costs to Birmingham City Council of £2,454. 

Mr Freeman had been letting a three-storey property to at least five individuals.

In a joint operation with West Midlands Police, Birmingham City Council Officers from the Private Rented Services team found that Mr Freeman’s property had no smoke detectors in the bedrooms; there was no fire blanket in the kitchen, inadequate emergency lighting on the escape route, missing staircase handrails, non-compliant fire doors and broken and leaking guttering and waste pipes. 

The Council said in a statement on its website: “This fine sends out a message to landlords who avoid the law that Birmingham City Council will pursue anyone who lets unlicensed and/or substandard accommodation.”

Original source

Birmingham City Council