A LETTING agent has promised all 300 of his properties are safe after he was prosecuted by a council for endangering students lives.

Ahmed Khalil, owner and director of Khalil Properties in Lewes Road, Brighton was brought before the courts after failing to ensure fire safety measures were up to scratch at two of the student properties he manages.

Khalil told The Argus that he had already installed extra fire alarms and fire doors and work had been signed off by Brighton and Hove Council before it took him to court.

He said: “These properties are now safe and there are measures in place to make sure all my other properties are safe.”

Khalil pleaded guilty to two charges of breaching fire safety regulations at Brighton Magistrates’ Court last month, which the council said could have put his tenants’ lives at risk.

At one of the student properties, in Buller Road, there was a lack of adequate fire detection and fire doors, no fire blanket and a fuse board that was not properly enclosed.

At the second address in Moulsecoomb Way work to extend the fire alarm system had not been carried out.

Khalil, who manages 300 properties in the city, was fined £2,400 and costs of £1,200.

Khalil added: “Work was required on the properties but it was completed before it went to court.

“As soon as the things that needed doing were brought to my attention I made sure they were done straight away.

“And the whole structure of the company has changed so this can’t happen again.”

Councillor Tracey Hill, lead member for private rented sector housing, said: “We do not take prosecutions lightly.”