Landlord Fined Over £3,000 for Fire Safety Breaches

In May 2021, CFRS inspecting officers visited the property and identified several fire safety breaches concerning the flat door. The issues included damage that could compromise the means of escape and missing fire door fixtures, increasing the risk of fire and smoke spread. Despite being advised to address these issues and receiving an enforcement notice in June 2021, Mr. Berrington failed to take action.

Upon their return in September 2021, officers found that the required improvements had not been made. Multiple follow-up visits revealed that the landlord continued to disregard the enforcement notice. As a result, CFRS pursued legal action.

At the hearing, magistrates fined Berrington £3,924, emphasizing his failure to engage and cooperate with CFRS. They noted that he had not taken reasonable precautions to comply with the notice.

The Head of Prevention and Protection at CFRS commented:

“Fire safety is an essential part of good property management. Mr. Berrington failed to protect his tenant and other residents in the building from the risk of fire, which became evident when he neglected to address safety issues after being served the enforcement notice.

“Prosecuting individuals is always a last resort for our Service. We strive to support landlords in providing safe accommodation for their tenants. However, as this case demonstrates, we will take action when fire safety responsibilities are not taken seriously.”

On August 7, 2014, Adam Berrington appeared at Warrington Magistrates' Court, charged with failing to comply with an enforcement notice issued by Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) regarding a rental property in Widnes.