Council warning over fire safety failures

Council bosses said people ‘deserve to feel safe in their own home’ after owners of a Birmingham apartment block were hit with a £250,000 court bill for fire safety failures.

Birmingham Magistrates’ Court heard 160 residents in one of three blocks at Solihull Heights in Coventry Road were left at risk when post-Grenfell recommended fire alarm systems were not installed.

Middlesex-based Avamore Ltd was slapped with an improvement notice in May 2025. It had to be complied with by November last year, but the work wasn’t completed until six months later.

The company pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to comply with an improvement notice which required a National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) L5 Fire Alarm System to be installed, at a hearing in May this year.

At sentencing on Friday, October 16, it was fined £240,000 and ordered to pay a surcharge of £2,000 and prosecution costs of £9,153.30.

Coun Harris Khaliq, Cabinet Member for City Services and Digital, said: “Everyone deserves to feel safe in their own home.

“Residents should never be left worrying whether building owners are taking fire safety seriously or acting when risks are identified.

“This case sends a clear message. If landlords, developers or building owners ignore legal notices designed to protect residents, Birmingham City Council will take action and hold them to account.

“For too long, too many people have felt powerless when serious issues affecting their safety were ignored.

“Our job is to stand on the side of residents, not those who cut corners. That is exactly what we are doing.

“I want to thank our specialist officers for their determination and professionalism. They are leading important work across the city to ensure that safety comes before profit and that those responsible for these buildings meet their obligations.”

At the hearing, District Judge David Wain was told the company had carried out the necessary works in two of the three blocks but not at the third.

He was also told the company had stopped communicating with Birmingham City Council housing officers for a period of time before the notice was due to be complied with.

Mohammed Khan, defending, said fire protection measures were installed in the block but not the L5 system as required.

He said the company accepted responsibility, adding delays were caused by difficulties in gaining access to three of the apartments in the block.

District Judge Wain asked if the company could provide evidence it had carried out works on the apartments Avamore had access to, but it could not.

Judge Wain said: “The company had the assets to undertake the work and had the time to do so. They have not notified the council with any issues.

“There is no explanation for the company’s failure to complete the work in a timely manner.”

By Gurdip Thandi | Local Democracy Reporting Service