An agency has been left with a £38,000 bill following a fatal fire in a series of homes that it managed.
The Brighton Argus reports that Trainmerit Ltd, trading as Maltbys Estate Agents, has been fined £28,000 and ordered to pay court costs of more that £10,000 by Hastings magistrates' court after being convicted of breaches of fire safety legislation.
The company, based in Bexhill, pleaded guilty to a number of offences relating to the properties. A series of inspections to the properties - after a fatal fire at one of them in May 2011 - found significant risks to the occupants including inadequate fire protection, separation of escape routes and a lack of fire alarms and emergency lighting.
The paper reports that the court heard Maltbys had been aware of these significant risks for a considerable time prior to the fire but did not rectify them for four years until formal action was taken by the fire authorities.
Comments
Doesnt seem enough, given they were aware of the significant risks for a long period of time. They thought they could away with it and theyve been punished in the very worst way possible. I hope they can live with themselves, I dont think I could. Shocking that they took such risks with the occupants of their homes I seriously doubt theyll be getting much business from now on.
what a terrible thing to have on your conscious - 38k seems a pittance