It seems that our government, via it;s "local agencies" are now on an agenda to simply strangle small businesses by forcing "new rules and regulations" on them that most cannot afford and, if they can, misleading them so that precious resources are squandered by simply lying about the "rules".
We run (and have done for many years) a Backpackers Hostel, which is popular, well attended and profitable.
A couple of months ago, we received a letter from the local council stating that they were going to do an inspection, because we were a "house of Multiple Occupancy" - they also send letters to the occupants of the 4 flats at the hostel. We did point out that the house had been a hotel since 1878 and, at no time was ever considered to be flats and the letters sent to the "occupants" of the flats could not be delivered - because we were a Backpackers Hostel (a fact they knew, as we were charged business rates on that basis). Nevertheless, he insisted on coming to "check" that we were not lying.
He arrived, with our local, brand new Fire Officer - who decided to take a great interest in the place (despite the fact that 5 years ago we were checked, found to be well above requirements and had the badge they gave us displayed on the wall at the entrance), At that meeting, he suggested that we may need some upgrades to comply with "new regulations" and our fire alarm must be checked - and suggested a company (and gave us the number to phone). He left saying that he would come back in a week or two to discuss these matters. So we phoned the company he suggested and got them to check the fire alarm (which we know works fine). They did not check anything, produced a report condemning it (the details of which we have since proven to be a complete lie) and sent us a quote for a new system.
When Mr new fire officer arrived, he already seemed to have a copy of this "report" (I did think this a bit odd) and, based on this and the fact that our certified 1 hour fire doors did not have a "kite mark" on them, decided that the same place that passed with flying colours a few years before was an immediate danger to life and served us with a prohibition notice - closing us. These notices are usually only used in emergencies where the situation could literally blow up - not in places that are not only safe, but protected by a sometimes over active fire alarm (we know this from experience). Yet, as he was new to the job, he decided to throw his toys out of the pram and prove that he had the power to close us "on a whim". He did explain that we could appeal to a magistrates' court (which would have cost thousands and taken forever).
Despite wanting to simply kill him with the nearest blunt instrument, we decided to "bite the bullet" and get on with the work. This entailed replacing all of our 1 hour fire doors with new 30 minute fire doors (at leat the people dying could look at the kite mark!!), many of which needed new frames. The fie alarm however was a different "kettle of fish". Being a Grade II listed building, we could not allow surface run cables (otherwise the listing "tree huggers" would be round telling us to remove it all), so it would take a while for this to be arranged and installed. Being good citizens, we call Mr new fire officer back, showed him all the horrid new fire doors and the other small items required and set about disproving the "report" on the fire alarm (to the point where he had to ask us to switch it off - as he couldn't actually talk to us - bear in mind, this was the same alarm that the "recommended company" said did not work) and he accepted that, the only problem was that the house was 3 metres too big to be a single zone and therefore did not comply fully with the "new rules". We suggested that we could, in the interim, install another, wireless "cascading" system (basically radio linked smoke detectors that, once one goes off, they all do) and, he agreed that this would be sufficient to allow us to re-open. So, we spent around £500 (in addition to the thousands we had already spent on fire doors and the like) on buying the system, so we could open for last weekendm when we were fully booked.
On Thursday last, we were phoned by the fire service. They explained that Mr new fire officer was away on a course and they wanted to know when to come and inspect to lift the prohibition order. We explained that the additional detectors would not be in place till Friday morning and were met with "What additional detectors"? We explained and were told that, in no way would these be acceptable and the there was no chance that the notice would be lifted. When we asked why, we were simply told "because we say so" and no matter what we said or did made the slightest difference. I asked what the hell we were supposed to do with 31 people who were arriving at 1am Saturday morning and was told, "refer then to us".
On Friday, I sent no less than 10 urgent emails and made around 5 telephone calls to the fire service (as there was no way we could contact the guests) - all of which were ignored (and have been so far), asking what arrangements the fire service to accommodate these guests. The ONLY comment I received was that "if you allow them into the building, you will be arrested".
So, at 12:15am Saturday morning, I received a phonecall from our guests and had to explain to them that they had nowhere to stay. To cut a long story short, despite having a fully functional Hostel, ready to take guests and protected by two fire alarms, and having NEVER had a fire since 1878, we ended up with most of them "crashing" on the floor in our 3 bedroom house - while the 32 bed, centrally heated Hostel with a huge kitchen, computer room and massive dining room stayed empty - simply because "they said so".
The fact that Mr new fire officer, it would appear, told us information that was factually incorrect (otherwise our efforts would have been otherwise directed) and the fact that, under contract law, it was the legal responsibility of the fire department to arrange alternative accommodation, the chose to simply ignore it all.
How, in the name of sanity, is one suppose to actually run a business when those who impose these increasingly idiotic rules simply have no idea of what they are doing? It seems that, even if you move heaven and earth to comply with them (as we did), comply with everything you are asked to comply with, they simply change the "game plan" and you find that your efforts (and those of many other people) are for nothing.
This idiot who issued this notice should NEVER have done so and it was easily within his remit not to, he should have issued an enforcement notice, giving us 28 days to come "up to code" (as is normal). Because he simply does not understand his job, we are around £5000 the poorer in lost revenue and probably around the same amount in wasted effort (we had to pay a premium to get the work done so quickly) - and it should NEVER have happened.
Because this idiot did not know how to do his job, we are around £10,000 out of pocket and who knows how our reputation has been damaged.
So far as his email of the "Fire Service taking full responsibility for our guests" is concerned, despite the fact that they knew of the problem on Saturday morning (which, at our expense we dealt with), there is no sign of them even having acknowledged or made an effort to honour the responsibility that they promised and undertook to do - they have simply chosen to ignore it - and us.
How, in the face of such lunacy, is one supposed to run a business?
Sure as hell beats me.
