Watch out! Norwich landlords warned of fire risks

Landlords in Norwich who put the lives of tenants at risk by not maintaining smoke and fire alarms will be prosecuted, council chiefs have warned today.
It comes as landlord James Abergel was fined £1,000 at Norwich Magistrates Court following a fire at a bedsit property in Rosary Road, Norwich, where the fire alarm was switched off because it was malfunctioning. Abergel, 77, from Denbigh Road, pleaded guilty before city magistrates to four offences under housing management regulations. He was also ordered to pay £100 costs and a victim surcharge of £15. The court heard how Abergel had switched off the building's fire detection system because it was malfunctioning. He had then failed to switch it back on or call in the alarm maintenance company to fix the problem.Three fire crews were called to the fire at about 1.40am on February 13.Today, Ellen Alder, team leader for private sector housing at Norwich City Council, said she hoped Abergel's fine would be a warning to other landlords. “Thank goodness no-one was hurt and it was quite a small fire - it could have been extremely serious. The person whose room it was was out at the time but there were tenants in the building who had to escape.”Susan Smith, investigating officer, added that the council was currently investigating a number of cases where the landlord had not maintained or put in the correct fire detection system. “Putting tenants at risk is unacceptable and there is no excuse for not installing or maintaining fire alarms,” she said. A tenant of the fire-hit property on Rosary Road, who moved in shortly after the fire, said fire doors and alarms had been fitted. “I like it here, it's a safe place,” he said.Mike McCarthy, deputy chief fire officer, for Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service, said: “While many people now have good working smoke alarms installed, worryingly, there are many who still do not and who are running the dreadful risks associated with a fire in their home. Make sure your home has working smoke alarms and that you check them regularly.”