Property firm fined over fire alarms

A LEEDS property management and letting agent has been fined for failing to properly manage a licensable house in multiple occupation.

By The Newsroom

Published 3rd Mar 2010, 11:54 BST

Updated 3rd Mar 2010, 11:54 BST

YourStudentHome.com Ltd, based in Headingley, was fined 1,500 and ordered to pay 516 costs by Leeds Magistrates Court.

The firm had pleaded guilty to a charge that the smoke alarms at the five-bedroom shared student house in Claremont Avenue were not maintained in good working order.

The case came about as a result of an inspection of the property by a Leeds City Council officer who found that the fire alarms were not working.

The officer arranged for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service to provide temporary alarms for the house.

Under the Housing Act 2004, all houses in multiple occupation (HMO) are required to have fire alarms and there is a legal duty on managers of these properties to ensure that alarm systems are maintained.

Coun Les Carter, the city council's executive board member for housing, said after the hearing: "Our HMO licensing scheme is there to protect tenants and help landlords maintain standards."