The final bill for flouting fire safety rules at a shared house that was destroyed in an early morning blaze may cost a landlord up to £2 million.
The seven-bedroom rental property should have had strict fire safety controls under licensing conditions imposed on houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) by the local council.
But landlord Joseph Draper, 66, admitted four offences of failing to comply with fire safety regulations at Exeter Crown Court and was fined £115,000 and ordered to pay £23,000 costs.
The four-storey terrace house with a basement at Hillsborough Terrace, Exeter, burned down during the night in February 2008.
No one was hurt, but tenants had to escape the flames by climbing across the rooftops of neighbouring properties.
Since then, Draper has battled with his insurance company to settle a £1.5 million pay out. He also faces building repair bills of around £500,000 and legal costs of £100,000.
Tenants were at serious risk of death or injury
He has already sold the property in a bid to raise cash to pay legal costs.
Draper, of Old Coast Road, Berrynarbor, Ilfracombe, Devon, faced seven charges in court that he denied. He then changed his plea to guilty on four charges.
Prosecutor Sailesh Mehta told the court about the night of the fire.
"Smoke was coming out of the windows and people on the roof had escaped to adjacent buildings, such was the ferocity of the fire. By his guilty pleas, he accepts he put these people at risk of death or serious injury in case of fire,” he said.
Draper admitted that entrance doors did not have enough protection, such as self-closing mechanisms or smoke seals.
The judge, Recorder V Selvaratnum QC, told the court that the offences were not a deliberate failure to save money.
He also accepted Draper and his family had suffered problems with neighbours since the fire.
