Landlord jailed after house fire

News Category: Management

This article was brought to you by Rentman the premium rent management software.

A landlord who failed to ensure his property had a working fire alarm system has been jailed for two-and-a-half years after a fire broke out in one of his properties.

Michael Billings was sentenced after tenant Layla Skalli almost died in the blaze at her flat in Norwich.

She needed pioneering skin grafts to save her life and will require further surgery in the future.

As well as failing to make sure the flat had a working fire alarm, Mr Billings did not have the property's gas appliances checked by an engineer.

Health and Safety Executive inspector John Claxton described Ms Skalli's injuries as "horrific".

Following the court case, Layla's brother Andrew said: "The actions of Michael Billings have ruined my sister's life.

"We want to remind every landlord that they have a legal and moral obligation to the safety of their tenants."

Under health and safety law, landlords are required to ensure the gas appliances in the homes they rent out are checked annually by a Gas Safe Registered engineer.

How to stay legally compliant with letting agency software