
![]() |
Brian Sims
Editor |
Home> | Fire | >Enforcement | >£14K fine for rogue landlord |
Home> | Fire | >Fire and Rescue | >£14K fine for rogue landlord |
£14K fine for rogue landlord
05 June 2019
A STEVENAGE landlord has received a hefty fine for endangering the lives of his tenants by failing to meet the most basic of health and safety standards.

Officers from Stevenage Borough Council’s Environmental Health (Residential) team inspected premises at 90A Broadwater Crescent following complaints from the tenants about conditions at the property.
The property is a maisonette above commercial premises which had been converted into two separate flats. Upon inspection, officers found that the standard of conversion works were poor and that there were deficiencies resulting in serious hazards to the health and safety of the tenants, including fire hazards and excess cold, amounting to Category 1 hazards under the Housing Act 2004.
The building also lacked an adequate fire detection and alarm system and there were no fire doors. There was also evidence of electrical faults and the single-glazed windows to the flats were in serious disrepair with rotting frames.
In February 2018 the Council issued a Prohibition Order under the Housing Act 2004, prohibiting the occupation of the top floor flat until specified remedial works had been completed.
Environmental Health Officers carried out further inspections of the premises on 26th July 2018 and 19th November 2018 when it was found that the top floor flat had been rented out to new tenants in contravention of the Prohibition Order, and that serious fire safety hazards remained in the property.
As a result, the owner, John Kirbyshire, was prosecuted under Section 32 of the Housing Act 2004, for two offences of contravening the Prohibition Order.
He was found guilty in his absence at a hearing in St. Albans Magistrates’ Court on 27th March 2019. He received a total fine of £14,000 and was ordered to pay the Council’s legal costs of £2,845.50 and a victim surcharge of £120.
- Updated guidance on simultaneous evacuation issued by National Fire Chiefs Council
- Home Office to commission Fire Safety Order guidance documents
- Unlicensed Cwmbran security boss ordered to pay fine or face prison term
- Notts police and firefighters sharing welfare unit
- Gunning London launches new division to meet increasing need for fire door installation and maintenance
- Fire safety warning as millions work from home
- “UK leads the way in cyber security and policy for autonomous vehicles, but infrastructure improvements needed” warns KPMG
- ‘Death trap’ guest house lands owner with £250,000 fine
- Care-focused organisations warned against “taking risks” on fire safety
- New unit tackles digital criminals
- Laying down the law
- Student lettings firm fined £150,000 for fire failings
- From the editor
- Fire safety returns home to NEC Birmingham
- Blog for FSM website
- Huge fine for Lakanal House fire
- Restaurant chain served fine for fire breaches
- Laying down the law
- Hotelier in dock for fire safety breaches
- Prosecutions under the Fire Safety Order