Property management company and director sentenced for breaching fire safety regulations

Ottley (aged 62, of Tuddenham) and Home from Home Property Management Ltd, whose registered address is Pownall Road in Ipswich, were found guilty on 6 June in a Crown Court trial heard at Colchester Magistrates’ Court.

Ottley received a ten-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and was also ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work. Home from Home Property Management Ltd was fined £60,000.

Costs of £49,500 were awarded to Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service to be divided equally between Ottley and Home from Home Property Management Ltd.

A spokesperson for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service explained: “This sentence reflects the severity of the potential risk posed to residents due to Home from Home Property Management Ltd’s actions had a fire occurred.”

The spokesperson continued: “Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service protection officers actively work to ensure premises are compliant with fire safety legislation. The inadequate fire safety measures and management in this case could have resulted in serious injury or loss of life. We hope this judgement will send a clear message to all managing agents of the importance of fire safety.”

Finally, the spokesperson stated: “Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service is committed to working with those willing to address fire safety issues, but as an enforcing authority will not hesitate in prosecuting where lives are placed at risk.”

Councillor Steve Wiles, Suffolk County Council Cabinet member with responsibility for public protection, noted: “Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service rightly maintains the highest standards when it comes to public safety, and I’m pleased to see that the court has supported that position. The safety and well-being of the public is paramount. When the actions of companies such as Home from Home Property Management Ltd undermine that safety, it’s only right that they are held to account.”

Background to the case

Home from Home Property Management Ltd manages the premises at 2-100 Wolsey Street in Ipswich. In July 2017, it was established that ACM cladding was in use at the flats.

That same year, a fire risk assessment of the premises had been undertaken by a company appointed by Home from Home Property Management Ltd, but it did not take into account the high fire risk posed to the residents by the cladding.

The fire risk assessor had been given inaccurate information by Home from Home Property Management Ltd in relation to the level of risk posed by the cladding.

When this became apparent, the assessor invalidated the fire risk assessment he had produced before advising Home from Home Property Management Ltd to arrange for a new assessment to be undertaken.

In 2019, officers from Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service attended the premises and identified the fire risk assessment remained that of the original company, while the risk assessment still didn’t address the risk posed by the cladding.

Other areas of non-compliance with the legislation were also identified. They related to ensuring the means of escape was safe, that automatic opening vents operated correctly, ensuring the premises was equipped with a suitable fire alarm system and ensuring that residents knew what to do in the event of a fire in order to enable them to evacuate the building safely.

In August 2021, Home from Home Property Management Ltd appointed the services of a new fire risk assessor who corroborated the findings of Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service in respect of the ongoing risk posed to residents.

The new fire risk assessor has since worked to ensure there’s no longer a significant risk posed to life, while Home from Home Property Management Ltd is working towards the removal of the cladding with the support of central Government funding.