Residents Displaced After Fire Breaks Out at ‘Illegal Boarding House’ in Lichfield
Lichfield, Staffordshire – A number of residents have been left homeless after a large fire tore through what authorities are calling an “illegal boarding house” in Lichfield on Sunday night.
Emergency services were called to a terraced property on Birmingham Road shortly after 10:30pm, following reports of thick smoke and flames engulfing the rear section of the building. Fire crews from Lichfield, Tamworth, and Cannock responded to the scene, battling the blaze for several hours before bringing it under control in the early hours of Monday morning.
According to Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, the fire caused significant damage to the property, which had been sub-divided into multiple small living units. The blaze is believed to have started in the kitchen area of the ground floor before spreading rapidly through the building. Fortunately, all occupants were safely evacuated, and no serious injuries have been reported.
However, concerns have been raised about the safety and legality of the accommodation. Lichfield District Council confirmed that the property was not registered as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), raising suspicions that it was operating as an unlicensed boarding house.
“This property was not authorised for this type of use,” a council spokesperson said. “We are now working with emergency services and housing officers to investigate how many people were living there and whether safety regulations were breached.”
Displaced residents, many of whom lost their belongings in the fire, are now being temporarily housed in local hotels and hostels. Several expressed frustration and confusion, claiming they were unaware the house was operating illegally.
“I’ve lived here for six months,” said one resident, who wished to remain anonymous. “We paid rent every week to a man who said he was the landlord. I had no idea the place wasn’t registered or safe.”
Neighbouring residents reported seeing people coming and going at all hours and had raised concerns about overcrowding in the past.
“It was obvious something wasn’t right,” said local resident Jane Morris. “There were always lots of people inside, and you’d often see mattresses being taken in and out. It’s lucky no one was killed.”
Staffordshire Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fire, including whether the property owner could face prosecution under housing and safety regulations.
“We’re supporting the fire service and council with their inquiries,” said a police spokesperson. “We will be looking into whether there were any breaches of the law, especially relating to housing standards and fire safety compliance.”
The incident has prompted calls for more robust checks on rental properties in the area, with councillors warning that more unregistered HMOs may be operating in the district.
“This is a wake-up call,” said Councillor Alan Hooper. “We need to make sure all landlords are held to account and that no one is living in unsafe conditions. What happened last night could easily have been a tragedy.”
Investigations are ongoing, and anyone with information about the property or its landlord is being urged to contact Staffordshire Police or Lichfield District Council.
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