Fines for non-compliance
Property owner fined after failing to comply with fire safety enforcement notice
A property company has been fined after failing to comply with fire safety requirements at a converted Grade II listed building in Brighton.
The case followed a complaint received by East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (ESFRS) in November 2022 regarding the property, which had been converted into flats. Following an urgent inspection, fire officers introduced interim safety measures to allow residents to continue living in the building while further investigations were carried out.
A subsequent audit by Fire Safety Inspecting Officers identified a number of serious fire safety deficiencies. These included the absence of a suitable fire risk assessment, inadequate protection of escape routes, and concerns over the maintenance of the fire detection and warning system.
Due to the severity of the issues, East Sussex Fire Authority issued an Enforcement Notice to the Responsible Person, 13 Bedford Square Limited, requiring remedial works to be completed within set deadlines to bring the property up to an acceptable level of fire safety compliance.
However, further inspections revealed that key requirements had not been met, including the completion of the fire risk assessment and necessary improvements to internal fire-resisting doors.
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, failure to comply with an Enforcement Notice is a criminal offence. It is also an offence for a Responsible Person to fail in their fire safety duties where this places people at risk of death or serious injury.
On 8 December 2025, at Brighton Magistrates’ Court, 13 Bedford Square Limited pleaded guilty to fire safety offences relating to the property, acknowledging failure to comply with the Enforcement Notice. The company was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay £4,000 in costs to East Sussex Fire Authority at sentencing on 9 April 2026.
Commenting on the case, Station Manager for Legislation and Enforcement Jake Kaye said those responsible for fire safety have a clear legal duty to ensure fire risk assessments are carried out and properly recorded.
He highlighted that effective fire safety management is essential to ensure fires are unlikely to occur, and that if they do, they are controlled quickly and safely. He also emphasised the importance of maintaining fire detection systems and ensuring clear, protected escape routes so occupants can evacuate safely when needed.
Mr Kaye noted that converted residential properties with shared common areas such as corridors and stairwells are often found without adequate fire risk assessments, describing this as a widespread concern. He reminded duty holders that failure to comply with legal responsibilities or enforcement notices can have serious consequences.
Assistant Director for Risk Reduction, George O’Reilly, added that ESFRS has a legal duty to enforce fire safety legislation and will take action where necessary to protect life.
He stated that the service will not hesitate to pursue legal proceedings where failures in fire safety put people at risk of death or injury.
ESFRS continues to remind all responsible persons, including owners of commercial premises and residential buildings with communal areas, of the importance of complying with fire safety regulations and the potential consequences of failing to do so.
Read the full story here: East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service Welcomes Successful Fire Safety Prosecution. | East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service