The landlords of two commercial properties in Manchester have been fined for breaching fire safety regulations.
Suhail Sawar and his father Tariq Sawar both pleaded guilty at Manchester City magistrates’ court to several fire safety offences relating to two multi-occupancy units they rented out for commercial use in Derby Road.
Suhail was fined £17,500 – plus £3,365 costs – after admitting seven offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, including failing to provide an appropriate fire alarm and failing to provide an appropriate emergency lighting system.
Meanwhile, his father was fined £7,500, plus £2,480 costs, for fire safety offences including failing to carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment and failing to comply with an enforcement order.
Peter O’Reilly, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service director of prevention and protection, said: “It was made clear to these two men that they alone were the responsible individuals for ensuring the fire safety of people in the respective buildings they owned.
“They comprehensively failed to do this, despite enforcement notices being issued.”