A Nottingham landlord with a portfolio of properties worth over £1m has been handed a fine of £6,000 after a number of fire breaches were found at four of his properties.
Magistrates heard that two posed concerns over fire safety, two lacked clear escape routes and none were licensed with Nottingham City Council.
Council officers checked a three-storey house on Bruce Close, in The Meadows, and found it had seven bedrooms and five tenants. They shared the kitchen and bathroom. It had no licence.
Miss Mills told the court: “There was a lack of fire doors throughout the property, the kitchen door did not have a handle and could not be closed.
“There was a fridge stored in the hallway which provided access to the bathroom, kitchen and rear door.”
Gohil owned another house on the street and this again had no licence and problems with fire detectors.
Miss Mills said: “A large refrigerator was in the hallway outside the kitchen”.
“Smoke detectors were not linked so occupants on the first and second floor would not receive adequate early warning in the event of a fire.”
Fines totalling £4,750 were ordered for Gohil, who admitted seven breaches of the Housing Act.
John Campbell, mitigating, told the magistrates: “He has rectified all the matters subject of these offences. He has applied for licences for all the properties.
“He didn’t need to be prosecuted to leap into action. The purpose is to maintain standards and safety and that has been served.”
