York landlord fined £7,000 for serious fire safety issues

On the 4th September 2016 North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to a report of a fire at flats on Fulford Road in York.

During the incident, which had been caused by an electrical fault near to the fuse board, fire officers found that the fire alarm and detection system provided for the two flats and communal hallway was not working. Further investigation found that the landlord, Mr Charles Thornton, had not carried out a fire risk assessment. During an interview Mr Thornton admitted that he had not planned or organised his fire safety responsibilities adequately. The fire alarm and detection system had not been tested, serviced and maintained as it should have.

At York Magistrates Court on Wednesday 7th June 2017, Mr Charles Thornton pleaded guilty to three contraventions of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

Mr Charles Thornton was fined £7,000 and ordered to pay £2,933.33 in costs with a surcharge of £170. A total cost of £10,103.33