Salford managing agent fined for serious fire safety breaches

In failing to comply with the Licensing and Management of HMO Regulations 2006 following an inspection in November 2023, which was carried out by Salford City Council officials, Student-Haus Limited has been ordered to pay a £6,600 fine, the sum of £4,500 in costs and also a victim surcharge of £2,000 (totalling £13,160).

Student-Haus Limited was found guilty of three offences relating to fire safety breaches. The offences included breaches of:

*Regulation 4(1)(b): the manager must ensure that all means of escape from fire in the HMO are maintained in good order and repair

*Regulation 7(1)(a): the manager must ensure that all common parts of the HMO are maintained in good and clean decorative repair

*Regulation 7(1)(b): the manager must ensure that all common parts of the HMO are maintained in a safe and working condition

Given its commitment to building a fairer, greener, healthier and more inclusive city for all, Salford City Council strongly encourages landlords to take immediate action to ensure their properties meet the required standards, focusing on key compliance areas and adopting a proactive management approach. This will not only help in avoiding financial penalties, but also in terms of ensuring the safety and wellbeing of tenants.

Warning to other landlords

Councillor Tracy Kelly, lead member for housing and anti-poverty at Salford City Council, commented: “I’m pleased with this outcome, which clearly reinforces the importance of the fact that tenants deserve to live in safe and well managed properties. This action by Tameside Magistrates’ Court and through civil penalty notices issued by the Council should be a warning to other landlords to check that they’re meeting all of their obligations.”

Kelly added: “Negligent landlords who put tenants’ Health and Safety at risk have no excuse to abandon their legal duties. Residents of Salford living in HMOs can be assured that the City Council will take action against those landlords and agents who don’t stick to the rules.”

HMOs can be bedsits, shared houses or flats occupied by more than one household and more than two individuals, with shared kitchens or bathrooms.