Huge fine for landlord and property firm with “reckless attitudes”

A landlord and two businesses have been fined over £145,000 following a fire in a building containing residential flats and a food takeaway. 

KWB Property Management Ltd, Arista Restaurants Ltd, and landlord Christos Orthodoxou were sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court following a fire safety investigation at a premises in Sutton Coldfield. 

The three-storey building houses the takeaway, offices and flats and was found to be in breach of several fire safety regulations.

The prosecution follows a 2016 fire incident when a small fire broke out on the first floor of the premises. Attended by West Midlands Fire Service, firefighters became concerned about smoke travel in the means of escape and the lack of fire safety arrangements, and requested fire safety officers assess the premises. 

The following fire safety issues were identified: there was no fire risk assessment in place; there was insufficient fire resistance between the ground and first floors; there was no fire alarm system; and dangerously coiled extension leads were being used in the restaurant.

While an interim fire alarm was fitted soon after, the fire service served enforcement notices regarding the remaining fire safety issues. However, additional visits in 2018 and 2019 showed that the defects had still not been addressed. 

West Midlands Fire Service reported at the time: “It became apparent that records could not be produced to prove claims that work had been carried out to address compartmentation failings, and work that had been completed was not carried to an acceptable standard.”

Birmingham Crown Court gave Orthodoxu a 16-month sentence suspended for 21 months and a fine of £5,000. He was also ordered to pay costs of £15,765.

KWB Property Management Limited was fined £80,000 plus £20,000 in costs, while Arista Restaurants Limited was ordered to pay £60,000 and £20,000 in costs. In total, the two companies and the landlord were fined £145,000 along with legal costs of £55,765.

A fire service spokesperson says: “We take no pleasure from bringing such cases to court. We would much rather work with those responsible for fire safety to resolve issues in a timely manner. During this lengthy investigation, we encountered reckless attitudes towards fire safety. The building’s owner and agent refused to accept responsibility, as did the director of the restaurant and a director of the managing agency.

“Our role is to keep safe those living or working in, or visiting, such premises. Where necessary, we will ensure that people who fail others in their fire safety responsibilities face the courts.”

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