Riverstone-Abbey Estate Agents Limited fined following fire safety prosecution

Acting on behalf of the East Sussex Fire Authority, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service has successfully prosecuted Gareth Reed and his company, Riverstone-Abbey Estate Agents Limited. At Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 12 October, Reed was fined £12,500 and ordered to pay a £2,000 statutory victim surcharge, while his company was fined £7,500.

In addition, Reed was ordered to pay £2,525.31 to East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service towards the costs of the investigation.

The prosecution follows a fire that occurred in Hughenden Road, Hastings on 15 May 2025 at a property then managed by Reed and his company. Three individuals suffered smoke inhalation after residents became trapped inside the premises as smoke filled the common areas and obstructed their escape.

Fire safety deficiencies identified

Following the fire, fire safety inspecting officers from the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service attended the premises and identified significant fire safety deficiencies. Among those deficiencies were the following: 

*a fire detector that didn’t appear to be secured in its intended position on the kitchen ceiling 

*doors that were not fire-resisting and were not fitted with self-closing devices 

*a lack of evidence that residents had been provided with information about what to do in the event of a fire outbreak

Statutory powers under Article 27 of the Fire Safety Order enable authorised inspectors – where necessary to enforce fire safety legislation – to enter and inspect premises, make enquiries and require relevant documentation to be provided. These powers help to determine whether premises are being managed safely and whether those responsible are complying with their legal duties.

Brighton Magistrates’ Court heard that Reed (the sole director of Riverstone-Abbey Estate Agents Limited) had failed, without reasonable excuse, to provide the documents and information required.

Clear message

The message is clear: official correspondence from the Fire and Rescue Service must not be ignored. Businesses, landlords, managing agents and those with fire safety responsibilities should ensure official correspondence is dealt with promptly and responded to within the required timeframe. If there’s any uncertainty or difficulty meeting a deadline, they should contact the inspector without delay.

A letter from the Fire and Rescue Service may be an important step in identifying and addressing risks posed to life. Reading it, acting on it and responding appropriately are essential steps in protecting occupants and ensuring compliance with fire safety legislation.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places legal duties on the ‘Responsible Person’ to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of relevant persons from fire.

‘Responsible Persons’ should: 

*ensure a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment is in place and kept under review 

*implement and maintain appropriate fire safety measures 

*establish reliable arrangements for receiving and responding to official correspondence 

*never ignore letters, notices or requests for information from authorised fire safety inspectors 

*respond to lawful requests within the specified timeframe and contact the inspector promptly if clarification or additional time is needed

*ensure that anyone responsible for managing fire safety understands their legal duties and knows how to escalate official communications

Responding to correspondence

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service station manager (legal and enforcement) Jake Kaye said: “Effective fire safety management is essential to reduce the likelihood of fire and to ensure that, should a fire occur, it can be detected quickly and occupants can escape safely.”

Kaye continued: “This case also highlights the importance of responding to official correspondence. Ignoring a letter or failing to respond to a lawful request for information is not a way in which to avoid scrutiny. It can lead to further enforcement action and prosecution.”

In addition, Kaye stated: “We hope this prosecution and the penalties imposed by Brighton Magistrates’ Court serve as a clear reminder that fire safety responsibilities must be taken seriously and that lawful requests from authorised inspectors must be dealt with promptly.”

George O’Reilly (East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service’s assistant director of risk reduction) explained: “I would like to thank Brighton Magistrates’ Court for its careful consideration of this case, as well as our legal team and fire safety officers for their professionalism.”

O’Reilly went on to comment: “Official correspondence from East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service must not be ignored. We will always seek to work constructively with businesses and ‘Responsible Persons’ to help them understand and meet their fire safety responsibilities. However, this doesn’t remove the obligation to co-operate with authorised inspectors and comply with lawful requirements made during an investigation.”

In conclusion, O’Reilly informed Fire Safety Matters: “East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service has a statutory duty to enforce the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. We take that responsibility very seriously indeed. Where failures to comply with fire safety legislation occur, we will consider proportionate enforcement action. This prosecution demonstrates that we will use the powers available to us where necessary to uphold fire safety standards and protect members of the public.”

*Further information is available online at www.esfrs.org