St Edmundsbury Borough Council has successfully prosecuted the manager of a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) for failing to carry out fire proofing and heating work.
Roger Harman, manager of 104 Fornham Road, Bury St Edmunds, was prosecuted on 12 September 2008 by St Edmundsbury Borough Council for failing to comply with an Improvement Notice served under the provisions of the Housing Act 2004. The Notice required fire proofing works and the provision of heating in one of the rooms.Mr Harman, who pleaded guilty to the offence, was fined £500 and ordered to pay the Council’s costs of £250.
An HMO is a house occupied by a number of separate households who may share facilities such as a kitchen or bathroom. The council enforce standards for these properties particularly in respect of the provision of a safe means of escape in case of fire. Standards also include ensuring that there are sufficient amenities for the number of households and that they are free from hazards and in a good state of repair.
Cllr Sara Mildmay-White, Cabinet member for Community said,
“The risk of fire in an HMO is ten times higher than in a single household occupied property and this prosecution is evidence of our determination to protect tenants. We are aware of more than 60 Houses in Multiple Occupation in the borough and we are targeting them to ensure that they comply with the council’s standards.”
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Issued By Sally Easton, Communications Unit, St Edmundsbury Borough Council, Phone: 01284 757046 email: sally.easton@stedsbc.gov.uk
