Landlord fined for 'systemic failures' at homeless hostel

A Liverpool landlord has been hit with a bill of almost ₤25,000 for exposing vulnerable tenants to serious fire risks in a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO).

Step 1 (NW) Limited were handed a ₤20,000 fine by Liverpool Magistrates Court, on Thursday, 17 March 2022, for failure to comply with the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006.

The Court heard that the property, Lower Breck House on Lower Breck Road, is a large House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) that houses a wide range of vulnerable tenants, many of whom have suffered homelessness, substance abuse and other issues. Liverpool City Council and its partners do not place people there.

Council Officers attended in March 2021 as the result of an anonymous complaint, and discovered that the property had 43 defective fire doors throughout the building, increasing the risk of fire spread.

The fire alarm sounders installed at the building failed to meet the required decibel level, meaning that tenants may not have heard an alarm in the event of a fire.

In addition, fire extinguishers at the property had out of date service records, some appearing to have had their last service as far back as 2016.

There were also issues regarding excessive use of intumescent foam which exceeded the permitted amount to be used and the cellar staircase not being adequately fire protected.

The Council told the Court that there had been a systemic failure to ensure the property was safe and adequately fire protected.

District Judge Healey noted that the defects at the property had:- "raised the risk" of fire spread and following guilty pleas on 5 counts from the company, imposed a fine of ₤20,000 plus costs of ₤4,747.61 and a victim surcharge of ₤190.

A HMO licence requires the holder to comply with certain legal obligations, including ensuring appropriate fire safety protocols are in place. As a result of the prosecution, the Council will undertake a review of the:- 'fit and proper' status of the licence holder.

Further advice regarding HMOs and HMO licensing can be found on this Liverpool City Council website link and also on Liverpool.Gov.UK.

Councillor Sarah Doyle, Cabinet Member for Strategic Housing and Regeneration, said:- "This case reveals a shocking disregard for the safety of vulnerable tenants. The landlord was taking rent for people to live in unsafe conditions and I dread to think what could have happened if a fire had broken out in the property. We are determined to take action against landlords if they put tenants at risk, which is why we are also about to launch a new Landlord Licensing scheme which will give us the tools to identify and tackle private rented properties as well as HMOs. All of these measures form part of our determination to raise standards and improve the City's neighbourhoods for residents."

Alcedo launches complex care division

FAST growing Alcedo Care Group continues to expand with the launch of a dedicated new complex care division. The award winning North West based home care provider with its head office in Southport has invested ₤250,000 in the new division which consolidates its existing service offering and enables it to provide an exceptional range of nurse led clinical care services to patients in their home environment. More acute and intensive, services provided by the complex care team include:- round the clock bedside nursing, the administration of complex medication or ventilators, treatment of patients with brain injuries, providing peg feeds and maintaining tracheostomy tubes.

Clare Murray, from Liverpool, takes the role of operations and quality manager for the new division and will seek to expand her team to 300 permanent employees by the end of December 2022, recruiting both internally and externally and appointing highly qualified Nurses from across the North West.

Andy Boardman, who is the Managing Director at Alcedo Care Group, said:- "With the continued increase in demand for the delivery of more acute care in the home environment, we took the opportunity to consolidate our service offering and establish a dedicated new complex care division. Providing an additional new revenue stream for the business, it has also enabled us to carve out a bit of niche for ourselves in the North West as very few other home care providers offer these intensive nurse led services. The complex care division also offers additional opportunities for the continued professional development of our own team, with many of our existing carers excited about upskilling and developing into this area ensuring we become a real leading force in the delivery of high quality care services at home."

The majority of demand for the new complex care service will come from NHS case managers and partnerships with Local Health Authorities. With an ever increasing number of people being discharged from Hospital back into the community with outstanding care requirements, there are many who would benefit from an individualised care service in the comfort of their own home.

Boardman continues:- "Many individuals benefit greatly from having the 1 to 1 care and attention that our complex care at home service provides, something that they may struggle to receive in a multi occupancy home. There are many proven benefits of being cared for at home in a safe, relaxing, comfortable and familiar environment and the service will also take further pressure off the NHS as is cheaper to care for patients at home rather than in Hospital."

Alcedo Care has already demonstrated considerable success. Expanding at pace, the company has opened 6 new offices in the last 12 months, taking its total to 11, and plans to open 5 more in the next 6 months. The addition of a complex care service offering will support and enhance Alcedo's ambitious expansion plans.

Established in 2017, Alcedo Care offers Domiciliary Care Services, Live in Care, Nurse Led Complex Care Services, Supported Living and Children's Services and has fast gained an enviable reputation as the home care provider of choice in the North West thanks to its superb 700 strong team of highly skilled and compassionate carers who make a tangible difference to the quality of life of the company's home care clients.

Run by passionate husband and wife team, Andy and Jo Boardman, and with the support of their fantastic management team, the company is expanding at pace and aims to double in size over the next 12 months with the recruitment of more than 1,000 new carers. For more information on the home care services provided by Alcedo Care, or to enquire about a fulfilling and rewarding new career in care, please visit:- AlcedoCare.Co.UK.