Rental agent pleads guilty to fire hazard homes

A city property agent has been fined more than £3,000 for allowing two of his properties to become fire hazards.

Ahmed Khalil, sole director of Khalil Properties Ltd, 124 Lewes Road, Brighton, pleaded guilty to two charges of putting his tenants at risk of harm in the event of a fire.

The properties, at Moulsecoomb Way and Buller Road, were found to have inadequate fire safety measures which could have endangered the lives of the occupants.

In one property, there was a lack of adequate fire detection and fire doors, non-fire resistant glazing, no fire blanket and an electrical fuse board that was not properly enclosed. There were also inadequate electrical sockets and a lack of loft insulation. 

At the second property work to extend the fire alarm system had not been carried out.

Councillor Tracey Hill, lead member for private rented sector housing, said: “We do not take prosecutions lightly and we are very pleased with this outcome. 

“Mr Khalil and his company manage a large number of properties in the city and it is great news for his tenants that they can now expect better service and safer places in which to live.”

Mr Khalil, who manages 300 properties in the city, was fined £2,400 plus ordered to pay costs totalling £900 and a £120 victim surcharge.