Building company fined after botched work put mother and children at risk

Work got under way in January 2024, but the company built the extension directly on top of existing gas service pipework and failed to move the flue connected to the home's gas boiler.

The Health and Safety Executive launched an investigation into the case shortly after.

The investigation led to both the company and its director, Mohammed Adam Azhar, of Intake Road, Bradford, pleading guilty to multiple offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act etc. 1974.

On May 22, 2024, a building control inspector from Bradford Metropolitan Council visited the property and found the boiler flue was discharging directly into the newly constructed extension.

The boiler was still running at the time of the inspection, putting the family at risk.

Northern Gas Networks were called to assess the situation and classified the gas installation as immediately dangerous, with household's gas supply disconnected immediately.

The family was left without gas for a number of weeks, and the cost of rectifying the dangerous work came to approximately £4,000.

An investigation by the HSE revealed building control inspectors had repeatedly cautioned the company during the construction process that both the gas pipework and the flue required proper relocation.

Despite these multiple warnings, Adam's Building Construction Ltd pressed ahead without making the necessary changes, leaving the occupants at serious risk throughout the duration of the works.

Mr Azhar was also unable to demonstrate to HSE inspectors that his firm had produced construction phase plans for any of its projects, all of which involved domestic clients.

As a result, the HSE issued an Improvement Notice compelling the company to establish a proper system for creating written plans for jobs where it served as principal contractor.

The firm then failed to comply with that notice, constituting an offence under the 1974 Act.

Mr Azhar separately obstructed the investigation by refusing to supply relevant information when formally required to do so by the HSE's lead inspector, a further breach of the legislation.

A hearing at Leeds Magistrates' Court heard neither Adam's Building Construction Ltd nor Mr Azhar are still active in the construction industry.

At Leeds Magistrates Court on August 7 2026, Adam's Building Construction Ltd was fined £10,000 in total and ordered to pay £4,263 in costs.

Azhar received a personal fine of £1,000 along with a £400 victim surcharge.

Speaking after the sentencing, HSE Inspector David Beaton said: "This was a tragic accident waiting to happen.

"The failure on the part of the company and its director to properly plan this building work, and to make suitable arrangements for relocating the gas pipework and appliances, could have easily had fatal consequences for the family living in the property.

"Those failures were compounded by the further failures to comply with an HSE Improvement Notice, and to provide relevant information to assist our investigation.

"Everyone in control of domestic building work must ensure that a suitable and sufficient construction phase plan is in place before building work commences, so that no-one faces the kind of risks this family were exposed to."