A prosecution resulting in a landmark fine has been brought by City of Lincoln Council over a rogue landlord who breached fire, health and safety Regulations at two of his properties in Lincoln and the East Midlands.
Mr Keshmiri is the landlord of four self-contained flats on Rosemary Lane and a second property converted into two self-contained flats on Spa Buildings.
The building on Rosemary Lane which was home to 12 tenants, was found to have broken smoke detectors, inappropriate locks on fire exits, poorly made repairs that increased the spread of fire, and a lack of fire separation and protection between flats. One flat posed a risk of electrocution from a light, and another posed a risk of vermin, insects and legionella to its inhabitants. In the flats communal areas there was no emergency lighting in the stairwell and the standard lighting on the landings failed to work.
Six tenants resided in the second property in Spa Buildings, here fire doors were found to be sealed shut and no smoke alarms or fire blankets were present in one of the flats.
Mr Keshmiri was found guilty of 28 offences across his properties and was fined £400,000 by Lincoln Magistrates' Court. The fine is thought to be one of the largest fines issued to an individual landlord in England, Scotland and Wales.
The Judge told Mr Keshmiri during sentencing: ''Given your history, your portfolio of properties and the length of the time that you have managed them, this is of the upmost seriousness. The offences were so serious that the fine should act as deterrent to other rogue landlords.''
