Birmingham barrister landlord fined for fire hazard property

A Birmingham barrister and landlord from Erdington was ordered to pay £4,740 at Birmingham Magistrates Court today (6 July 2017) for failing to obtain an HMO licence and for breaching management regulations at a three storey property in Hunton Road, Erdington – including those regulations designed to protect tenants from fire.

Lewis Perry, age 39, also of Hunton Road, Erdington, pleaded guilty to failing to obtain an HMO licence and for breaching management regulations.  He was fined £3,500 with £1,120 full costs and victim surcharge of £120.

Perry is a barrister and Head of a Chambers whose work involves both regulatory and landlord/tenant work.  He also said he was a member of the National Landlords Association.  Despite this Perry failed to obtain an HMO licence and didn’t have mains powered interlinked fire alarms or heat detectors in the kitchens.  He also didn’t have any fire doors or emergency lighting to the escape route.

Birmingham City Council’s cabinet member for housing and homes, Cllr Peter Griffiths, said: “As a barrister working with landlords and tenants, Perry should have been aware of his legal responsibilities to license and install fire precautions.  I am glad that we have been able to bring this landlord to justice through our specialist work on rogue landlords.”