Home from Home Property Management Ltd is a Suffolk-based property management company that recently faced legal repercussions for fire safety breaches. The company, along with its director Edward Ottley, was found guilty of eight non-compliance offenses at Colchester Magistrates’ Court. The court case revealed that the Ipswich premises managed by Home from Home had aluminum composite material similar to that implicated in the Grenfell Tower fire.
The prosecution against Home from Home was initiated by Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, highlighting the importance of fire safety in residential properties. The existence of the cladding at the Ipswich properties posed a significant risk to residents in case of a fire incident. This led to a clear message from SFRS emphasizing the critical nature of fire safety measures and the consequences of negligence in this regard.
Despite a fire risk assessment being conducted, it failed to accurately assess the high fire risk associated with the cladding material. The inaccurate information provided by Home from Home to the fire risk assessor invalidated the risk assessment, prolonging the potential harm to residents. Subsequent inspections by SFRS in 2019 revealed the lack of necessary updates and reviews as required by fire safety legislation.
In response to the identified risks, a new fire risk assessor was appointed in 2021 to address the issues and collaborate with Home from Home to mitigate the risks to residents. The involvement of government support was mentioned in the removal of the hazardous cladding material to ensure the safety of the residents. The sentencing for the case is scheduled to take place at Ipswich Crown Court in July.
