An agent has been hit with a bill of £38,000-plus after a fatal fire three years ago in which a 42-year-old woman died.

A man was also taken to hospital and treated for smoke inhalation after the blaze in which Deborah Reynolds died.

The firm was prosecuted by East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service and found guilty of fire safety regulations in two properties under its management.

Trainmerit, which trades as Maltby’s Estate Agents with branches across Kent and Sussex, was fined more than £28,000 and ordered to pay court costs in excess of £10,000.

The firm pleaded guilty to fire safety breaches at two properties in Bexhill.

Hastings Magistrates Court heard of risks identified by the fire service after the blaze.

These included inadequate fire protection, separation of escape routes and a lack of fire alarms and emergency lighting.

During the 2011 fire, an occupant became trapped on the top floor and had to be rescued by firefighters.

Richard Fowler, head of fire safety at East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, said: “We would like to remind all managing agents and others with responsibilities for property management, of their legal responsibilities to protect occupants against the risks from fire.

“The public should continue to be reassured that we take any breaches of fire safety very seriously, and especially so where the premises provides sleeping accommodation.”

Advice for agents on fire safety can be found here:

www.esfrs.org/businessSafety