Fire safety concerns led to an apartment block in Sheffield being evacuated, after fire safety inspectors found that the sprinkler systems were not working.
Residents were asked to leave the Riverside House building on Mowbray Street on 15 April 2026, as per the terms of a Prohibition Notice issued by South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (SYFRS).
A spokesperson for the service said: “On Wednesday 15 April 2026, business fire safety inspectors served a Prohibition Notice on Riverside Apartments on Mowbray Street, Sheffield.
“The notice prohibits sleeping within the residential flats at any time due to inadequate means of escape.”
Apartment managers, Barnsdales, reportedly offered residents £60 per night to find alternative accommodation and said it was “committed to resolving the situation”.
However, tenants have since shared their struggles in finding suitable accommodation while the notice remains in force.
The unacceptable fire risk related to five flats upstairs with one entrance and exit, so getting access to those top floors if there was a fire in the corridor area would be extremely difficult. A strategy to mitigate the risk to life has been proposed to SYFRS for review, and their decision is awaited.
SYFRS said that the Prohibition Notice would remain in force until the fire safety defects had been remediated and the notice was withdrawn.
This case reinforces that inadequate fire protection and poor escape provision will lead to decisive enforcement action, with immediate operational and financial consequences. Proactive maintenance, robust fire risk assessments and clear mitigation strategies are essential to avoid similar outcomes.
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