The Health and Safety Executive has fined North Devon Homes £6,000 after a tenant’s life was put at “immediate risk” from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Accoridng to Inside Housing:

“The case was brought to Barnstaple Magistrates’ Court on 13 August. The court was told the tenant of a North Devon Homes property in Barnstaple rang the emergency gas services after detecting a “very strong unpleasant smell” and realising that a carbon monoxide alarm was sounding.

When they arrived, emergency workers classed the situation as immediately dangerous.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation discovered that several weeks before the incident, North Devon Homes employees had removed a chimney from the roof and tiled over the space, in an attempt to fix a problem with damp at the property.

But the chimney was being used to vent a gas fire and gas boiler.

The association pleaded guilty to a charge brought under health and safety legislation and in addition to the fine was ordered to pay costs of £833.”