NEWS
A Carlisle landlord has been fined more than £1000 after it was found that the fire detection and alarm system in a house of multiple occupation (HMO) he owned was not working. The system had failed to sound the alarm when fire broke out in the property in September last year.
A Joint investigation by the local authority and fire service found that the landlord had no documentation relating to the maintenance of the fire detection and alarm system. It also emerged that there was no evidence that the electrical installation had been inspected and tested by a competent person.
Carlisle city council led the prosecution, supported by Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service. The landlord pleaded guilty to offences under the housing act 2004 and the management of houses in multiple occupation regulations 2006. He was fined £800 for the fire alarm offence and £270 for the electrical installation periodic inspection offence, in addition to being ordered to pay the legal costs and victim surcharge.
The landlord had previously failed to respond to several attempts by the local environmental health officer to arrange an inspection of the property as required by law.