Fire safety penalties are becoming increasingly more common in the UK as fire safety takes more of the spotlight in the aftermath of the Grenfell tragedy in 2017.
The penalties for not adhering to fire safety regulations can vary according to the offence, but they can be alarmingly high and they are becoming harsher, with the average fine post-Grenfell being £27,519 - that’s 35% higher than the 2014-2019 average.
Below we outline what you might expect after a fire safety check has been carried out on your premises and what penalties you could incur should you not follow regulations.
Fire Safety Assessments
Local fire and rescue services make visits to premises whether that be commercial offices or rented accommodation to check they adhere to fire safety regulations. They will check the fire risk assessment for the building or space and the fire safety measures that are in place.
They may then advise improvements to be made if the systems in place aren’t up to standard. These can come in the form of an informal or formal notice depending on the issue.
Types of Fire Safety Notice
The three main types of notice are listed below:
Alteration
This is issued where there are high safety risks or there is a fire safety risk if the use of premises changes.
Enforcement
An enforcement notice is given if a serious risk is identified. It will specify the improvements needed along with a deadline for them to be completed by. The authorities will then return to check these have been actioned.
Prohibition
In serious cases, a landlord or responsible person may be given a prohibition notice where the site has restricted access or access is prohibited completely until the issues are resolved.
Fire Safety Penalty Appeals
It is possible to appeal a notice by taking it to the local magistrate however this must be done within 21 days of receipt.
Fire Safety Penalties
In most cases, fire and rescue will provide a notice and advice on how to remedy any shortfalls in fire safety before fines are issued. However, if the necessary remedies aren’t actioned, you may be fined.
Minor fines can be up to £5,000 however there is no monetary limit for fines for more serious offences and you could also receive up to 2 years in prison.
Examples of recent fire safety penalties in the UK
Bedford Landlord - £40,000 fine
A rental property in Bedford was found to have an inadequate fire warning system, the fire escape and fire doors were in a state of disrepair and the fire risk assessment hadn’t been reviewed since 2015. Despite having been given time to address the issues, proceedings began and the landlord was fined £40,000 in 2022.
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Reading Landlord - £66,000 fine
A check on a Reading property in 2019 left fire and rescue services to say inhabitants were left ‘vulnerable to becoming trapped in the event of a fire’, resulting in a £66,000 fine for the landlord.
Derby Landlord - £50,000 fine + suspended prison time
After finding fire doors had no door-closers or smoke seals, the fire alarm wasn’t working and there was no fire risk assessment, a landlord in Derby was fined £50,000 and given a suspended prison sentence in 2019.
Lincoln Landlord - £40,000 fine
In 2020, a property in Lincoln was inspected to find that there were no working smoke alarms and a lack of fire doors. The landlord was issued a £40,000 fine.
Swansea Landlord - £54,000 fine
A landlord in Swansea was issued a £54,000 fine in 2019 when fire and rescue services found non-existent/faulty fire alarms and no clear fire exits.
Conclusion
Fire safety is an extremely important aspect of managing a building or property and as such, failing to adhere to regulations is treated very seriously. As fire safety becomes more spotlight, the checks and penalties are also becoming more harsh to encourage adherence.
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