A landlord has been sentenced to eight months in prison after fire fighters had to rescue his tenants when a blaze broke out.

There were 11 bedsits in the two adjoining properties owned by Haresh Rambhai Patel in Leicester.

Three tenants had to be rescued while others had to clamber out.

There was no emergency lighting, no working smoke alarms, emergency exists were blocked, fire doors were missing, left open or jammed, and a fire extinguisher had not been inspected for 25 years.

Patel, 57, reported to have 16 other rental properties in a £2.5m portfolio, pleaded guilty to seven offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 at Leicester Crown Court in August.

Sentencing, Judge Robert Brown told Patel: “You offered rented accommodation in your properties and were well aware of the obligations as a landlord to protect the health and safety of your tenants – or you should have been.

“These offences show you failed in virtually every aspect of fire safety in relation to 9-11 Evington Street.

“You’d been warned about fire safety by the council at these same properties and didn’t heed those warnings or take any measures to comply with fire safety regulations.”

Naomi Smith, prosecuting for Leicestershire Fire & Rescue Service, said: “He carried out no checks. He did not have licences to run multiple-occupation houses, and because he had no licences he wasn’t on the fire safety register and received no official fire safety visits.”

Patel was also ordered to pay £13,704 prosecution costs. He had previously been fined £38,000 in a separate prosecution for failing to have licences to let the properties.

Separately, a landlord which housed a couple with a young baby in an illegal outbuilding in Hayes, Middlesex, has been hit with a £16,441 bill.

McKane Holdings was taken to court by Hillingdon Council’s Beds in Sheds Team.

Shalini Largey, principal director for McKane Holdings, appeared for sentencing at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court.

She had earlier pleaded guilty, on behalf of the company, to failing to comply with enforcement notices requiring the building to be demolished.

McKane Holdings was fined £14,666, ordered to pay the council’s legal costs of £1,655 and a victim surcharge of £120.

Cllr Keith Burrows, cabinet member for planning, said: “We will not tolerate commercial landlords lining their pockets with ill-gotten gains, like this company had been doing.

“It is not acceptable to let people live in these poor conditions and especially not when there are children involved. It’s a disgrace and I am pleased this was reflected in the level of fine from the courts.”