A Yorkshire property company has been fined £20,000 for failing to carry out safety and fire safety improvement works on a property in Kirkburn, Driffield after ignoring requests to do so by housing officers.
GAP Properties (Yorkshire) Ltd, which is based in Doncaster, was represented at Beverley Magistrates Court by director George Plant, who pleaded guilty on its behalf to two counts of failing to comply with improvement notices served under the Housing Act 2004.
East Riding of Yorkshire Council
Officers found the safety of the tenants was at risk due to a lack of smoke and heat detectors
The prosecution was brought to court by East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s private sector housing team, who had first received complaints from tenants at the property in October 2020.
Following the complaints, an inspection took place and officers found the safety of the tenants was at risk due to a lack of smoke and heat detectors. There was also a collapsed ceiling, no lighting in the hallway, and windows and patio doors that would not open or lock properly.
Further inspections
The company was asked to deal with the issues, and despite assurances that repair and safety work would be carried out, further inspections carried out by housing officers in December 2020 and January 2021 saw the requests had been ignored.
Legal notices were then served on the company which was also not complied with, and court proceedings were issued. GAP Properties (Yorkshire) Ltd was fined a total of £20,000, ordered to pay costs of £3,419.57, and a victim surcharge of £190.
Author's quote
Chris Dunnachie, Private Sector Housing Manager at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “Throughout this case, officers have continually advised the landlord of the need to undertake essential repairs to the property. The council does, and will continue, to take robust action when the safety of tenants is put at risk due to serious hazards from the properties they are living in."
- Fire Safety Risk Assessment
- Fire Safety Planning
- Fire Prevention
- Fire Detection
- Fire Protection
- Fire Rescue
- Fire Safety Inspection
- Fire Safety Testing
- Fire Safety Standards
- Training & Education
- Fire Safety Policies
- Fire Safety Management
- Fire Emergency Response
- Electrical Fire Safety
- Building Fire Safety
- Industrial Fire Safety
- Tall Building Fire Safety
- Active Fire Protection (AFP)
- Passive Fire Protection (PFP)
- Firefighter Health and Safety
- Public Education
- Fire Insurance
- Smart Home
- Explosion Protection
- Flammable Material Control
- Artificial Intelligence
- Mergers & Acquisitions
