Risk, Health and Safety Information

LFB closes down 'death trap' housing

London Fire Brigade (LFB) has closed down a number of commercial buildings which were being used as residential accommodation as they breached fire safety regulations.

The service has issued prohibition notices on six separate buildings on an industrial estate in Alperton, in the north west of the capital, which housed 150 people.

Inspectors found virtually no means of fire safety measures in the property, with no fire protection situated between different floors and extremely limited means of escape.

Steve Turek, LFB's assistant commissioner for Fire Safety Regulation, said: "The complete contempt some landlords appear to have for the safety of those families they are taking money from is incredible.

"These buildings are potential death traps and it's lucky nobody was killed as a result. Building owners must understand the responsibilities they have under fire safety law."

The brigade was initially alerted to the issue after a fire broke out in an office block on the estate at the end of October and a subsequent inspection found over 50 people living in just 17 rooms.