A landlord with an Order of the British Empire (OBE) has been fined £300,000 for ‘appalling’ property conditions in a block of flats he owned in London. The landlord, who was identified as Sir Peter Bottomley, was found guilty of breaching multiple safety regulations and failing to maintain the building in a safe condition.
The case was brought to court by the London Fire Brigade, who had inspected the building and found it to be in an extremely poor state. The court heard that the building had no fire alarms, inadequate fire doors, and insufficient emergency lighting. There were also numerous electrical hazards throughout the building, including exposed wiring and overloaded sockets.
Sir Peter Bottomley had been warned multiple times by the London Fire Brigade to address these issues, but failed to do so. As a result, he was found guilty of multiple breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and fined £300,000.
This case serves as a reminder to all landlords that they have a responsibility to ensure that their properties are safe and compliant with all relevant regulations. Landlords should regularly inspect their properties and take any necessary steps to ensure that they are up to standard. Failure to do so can result in severe penalties, as this case has demonstrated.
It is also important for tenants to be aware of their rights and to report any issues they may have with their landlords. Tenants should always ensure that their landlords are compliant with all relevant regulations and that their properties are safe and secure. If tenants have any concerns about their property, they should contact their local authority or the relevant regulatory body for advice.