How can I appeal about an Enforcement, Alteration or Prohibition notice that has been served on a premises I am responsible for?

If you have been served with an Enforcement or an Alteration notice you have 21 days (from the date of the notice) to appeal to the magistrates court in the area where the premises located.

If you are not happy with the terms of the notice it is important that you do this within the 21 days, otherwise you are legally bound to those terms. If you don’t comply with the notice you will probably have committed an offence for which you could be prosecuted.

When you register your appeal the notice is suspended until a magistrate decides what should be done at a hearing. The magistrate can either uphold your appeal, agree with the fire authority (affirm) or can modify the notice as they see fit.

A prohibition is slighty different. You still have 21 days to appeal from the date on the notice but the notice is not suspended so you must comply with the terms until a magistrate has heard your appeal. If you don’t comply with the notice you will probably have committed an offence for which you could be prosecuted.

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