Property firm fined £20,000 by courts for failing to carry out fire and safety repairs at house in Driffield

A Yorkshire property company has been fined £20,000 for failing to carry out safety and fire safety improvement works after ignoring a number of requests to do so by housing officers.
By Emma Ryan
Published 25th Apr 2022, 15:19 GMT
Updated 25th Apr 2022, 17:00 GMT

GAP Properties (Yorkshire) Ltd, based in Doncaster, pleaded guilty at Beverley Magistrates Court to two counts of failing to comply with improvement notices served under the Housing Act 2004.

The prosecution was brought to court by East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s private sector housing team who first received complaints from the tenants in Driffield in October 2020.

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An inspection found no smoke or heat detectors, a collapsed ceiling, no lighting in the hallway and windows and patio doors that would not open or lock properly.

An inspection at the house in Driffield found no smoke or heat detectors, a collapsed ceiling, no lighting in the hallway and windows and patio doors that would not open or lock properly.An inspection at the house in Driffield found no smoke or heat detectors, a collapsed ceiling, no lighting in the hallway and windows and patio doors that would not open or lock properly.
An inspection at the house in Driffield found no smoke or heat detectors, a collapsed ceiling, no lighting in the hallway and windows and patio doors that would not open or lock properly.
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Legal notices were then served on the company which were also not complied with and court proceedings 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.

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. "