Three companies were ordered to pay fines of £670,000 after admitting fire safety failings in a building in Leeds that was being used for student accommodation.
Fines Over Student Flats Fire Safety Failings
At Leeds Crown Court, Judge Mairs heard how Trinity Halls, Woodhouse Street, Leeds had only one fire escape which was blocked by combustible materials, putting the 27 students living there at risk.
The court was told that the students had moved in on the upper ground floor of the building while other floors were under construction. A string of other failures contributed to the significant risk including a lack of fire alarms, exposed timber framing, storage of flammable items in stairwells and fire escape routes being unmarked.
The court heard that the lack of fire alarms in the building meant that if there was a fire, students would not have had the warning to evacuate the building. Even then, upon evacuation, some students had to travel 35 metres to the nearest fire escape, which is almost double the recommended limit. The Judge described the situation as potentially catastrophic.
The failings were discovered in September 2016 after a concerned parent called West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service. He had dropped his daughter off to live there but was so concerned by the state of the premises he would not allow his daughter to stay there. Inspectors from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service attended and discovered many breaches. They issued a prohibition order immediately.
The owners of the building, Trinity Developments admitted the safety breaches. Niche Homes Ltd, which was contracted to manage the property, also admitted the same breaches:
- Failing to complete a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment.
- Failing to provide adequate fire escape routes and exits.
- Failing to provide suitable fire detection and alarm system.
- Failing to take precautions to ensure the premises were safe from fire.
In addition, APP Construction Ltd, who designed and built the property, admitted the charge of failing to provide adequate fire escape routes and exits.
The companies were all given credit for early guilty pleas. Acceptable safety measures are all now in place.
Judge Mairs said “all the companies have high culpability” and that the risks “should have been obvious.” In sentencing, APP Construction was fined £450,000, Trinity Developments were fined £160,000 and Niche Homes Ltd ordered to pay £60,000.
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