FATHER and son landlords were slapped with fines totalling £30,000 at Manchester City Magistrates’ Court after breaching fire safety regulations at multi-occupancy units they let for commercial use.

Suhail Sawar, 23, of Hasty Lane, Hale, was fined a total of £17,500 – plus £3,365 costs – after admitting seven offences, including failure to comply with an enforcement order, failing to provide an appropriate fire alarm and failing to provide an appropriate emergency lighting system.

All the offences related to two-storey premises at Lawrence House in Derby Street, Manchester.

His dad, Tariq Sawar, 45, of Gore lane, Alderley Edge, was fined a total of £7,500, plus £2,480 costs, for fire safety offences in relation to two-storey Victoria House, also in Derby Street. His offences included failing to carry out a suitable and sufficient fire safety risk assessment and failing to comply with an enforcement order.

Both men were also fined a £15 victim surcharge.

Speaking after the sentences, Peter O’Reilly, director of prevention and protection at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, said: “It was made clear to these two men that they alone were the responsible individuals for ensuring the fire safety of people in the respective buildings they owned.

“They comprehensively failed to do this, despite enforcement notices being issued.

“Whilst we willingly work with businesses to help make their premises safe for people to use, we will not waver in our duty to enforce the law and take action against those people that put people’s lives at risk through their neglect of their legal responsibilities.”