The fire, which occurred at Manjit Chima’s two-storey property in Westlea Road that housed seven bedsits, led to an investigation by the Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service and Warwick District Council’s private sector housing team.
Nuneaton Justice Centre heard that the fire had started in the communal kitchen. Mr Chima had previously removed the doors leading from it, leaving the hall, stairs and ground floor rear bedrooms open to fire spread. In addition, a garage and outbuilding had been converted into bedsits without being fitted with fire escape windows.
Council officers also found that the fire alarm system did not operate properly and Mr Chima was unable to provide either servicing records or gas/electrical inspection reports.
All of the tenants managed to escape before the fire took hold, suffering only from smoke inhalation. Nevertheless, magistrates said that they had taken into account the very serious nature of the offences, as the landlord’s failure to provide and maintain fire precautions had put the lives of his tenants in danger.
District council housing and property services portfolio holder, Cllr Peter Phillips, said: ‘The vast majority of landlords work well with the council and provide good quality accommodation. The situation at 82 Westlea Road could easily have had a tragic outcome.’