Reform candidate couple sue neighbour for about £362,000 after fire destroys seaside bungalow

Harold and Susan Shearing, Reform UK candidates in the 2023 local elections who were not elected, are suing their neighbour for about £362,000 after a 2023 fire destroyed their seaside bungalow in Frinton-on-Sea, Essex. The couple say the blaze began after a disposable barbecue was moved to the back of the neighbour’s attached garage and lit, spreading to their home and rendering it uninhabitable.

According to documents filed in London's High Court, the incident occurred on May 28, 2023. The Shearings say they were at their kitchen table when they saw smoke rising from the back of Michael Smedley’s property and were among neighbours who banged on the door to alert them to evacuate as firefighters were called. They say Smedley admitted he had lit a disposable barbecue in his garden, moved it to the back of the garage on a glass table, and placed it there, which they contend caused the fire. As the blaze took hold, the couple watched the fire spread while others urged them to leave. The fire brigade arrived and fought the flames, but the Shearings’ home was badly damaged and ultimately deemed uninhabitable.

The Shearings are pursuing more than £360,000 in damages, with a breakdown that includes about £270,000 for damage to their home, £50,000 for damaged contents and £37,000 they say they spent on alternative accommodation after the fire. Emma Walker, the couple’s lawyer, said in court papers that the pair observed the blaze from their kitchen window and that, after evacuating, they relied on the fire service to protect their home while acknowledging the neighbour’s account of the events. The filing states that the fire caused substantial damage and rendered the Shearings’ property uninhabitable, and it contends the fire would not have occurred without the neighbour’s alleged negligence.

The legal basis for the claim rests on occupier liability: the Shearings argue that an occupier is responsible for fires emanating from their property if negligence by someone on their land caused the damage with the occupier’s permission. They assert that Smedley’s decision to move and light the disposable barbecue in a way that allowed it to spread to their house was negligent and that he failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the fire from spreading. The court record indicates that Smedley’s defence had not been filed or made available at the time this article was written, leaving the formal response pending.

In a broader context, the case stands out because the Shearings had previously stood as Reform UK candidates in the 2023 local elections. While the couple did not win seats, the civil action centering on negligence and property liability highlights ongoing policy debates in the United Kingdom about personal responsibility, fire safety in residential areas, and the responsibilities of neighbors in preventing the spread of fires. The developments in this case come as courts continue to adjudicate complex claims that hinge on everyday conduct and the potential consequences of seemingly ordinary actions.