24th August 2026

Fire Safety Failings At Brighton HMO Lead to Prosecution: A Stark Reminder For Duty Holders

On 20 July 2026, Brighton Magistrates’ Court issued a significant penalty to Markandayar Gowrikaran, who was fined £3,875 (including the statutory victim surcharge) and ordered to pay £7,075.31 in costs to East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service (ESFRS). The case centred on serious fire safety failings at 20A St James Street, Brighton, a property operating as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) under Gowrikaran’s control.

A Pattern of Neglect and Repeated Warnings

The prosecution followed a series of inspections beginning in February 2023, when ESFRS officers attended the premises after concerns were raised about fireworks stored in the ground‑floor commercial unit. What they found went far beyond storage issues: the residential accommodation above displayed multiple, serious breaches of fire safety legislation.

Inspectors identified:

• Faults across multiple zones of the fire alarm control panel
• Missing smoke detector heads
• A loose manual call point
• A removed fire‑resisting door protecting the escape route
• Combustible materials stored in communal escape routes and on an external fire escape
• A kitchen door that failed to self‑close, compromising compartmentation
• An inadequately protected electrical intake, lacking proper securing and fire‑resistant enclosure

These deficiencies were formally brought to Gowrikaran’s attention, alongside the requirement to undertake a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment. Despite informal advice, enforcement notices, and repeated follow‑up inspections, progress remained slow. Many of the same issues persisted throughout 2023, with substantial remedial work not completed until early 2024.

Legal Duties Under The Fire Safety Order

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the Responsible Person must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of relevant persons from fire. This includes:

• Completing and regularly reviewing a fire risk assessment
• Maintaining fire safety systems and equipment
• Keeping escape routes clear and protected
• Providing appropriate information and training

In this case, ESFRS concluded that Gowrikaran’s failure to act within a reasonable timeframe exposed residents to heightened danger. A fire originating in the kitchen or electrical intake could have spread more rapidly due to missing fire precautions, while combustible materials in escape routes increased both fire development potential and the risk of obstructing evacuation.

ESFRS: Fire Risk Assessments Still Lacking Across HMOs

ESFRS Station Manager (Legal and Enforcement) Jake Kaye emphasised the importance of proactive fire safety management, stating:

“Those responsible for fire safety have a legal duty to carry out and record a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment. Effective fire safety management is essential to reduce the likelihood of fire occurring and to ensure that, should a fire happen, it can be detected quickly and occupants are able to escape safely.”

He added that many HMOs with shared communal areas still lack suitable fire risk assessments, a persistent and concerning trend.

Kaye concluded with a clear message:

“We hope this prosecution serves as a reminder that those responsible for fire safety must comply with their legal duties and with any enforcement action taken by the Fire Authority. Where they fail to do so and place people at risk, we will take appropriate enforcement action.”

A Wake‑Up Call For HMO Operators

This case highlights a recurring issue across the sector: delayed action, incomplete assessments, and poor maintenance of fire safety measures. For duty holders, the lesson is clear: compliance is not optional, and failure to act puts lives at risk.

Regular fire risk assessments, timely remedial work, and consistent management of escape routes are not just legal requirements; they are essential safeguards for residents who rely on responsible management to keep them safe.