Paula Howe, who lived next to 6 Wilson Street for several years, said she never saw smoke alarms in the home, while Mr Blizzard's partner Sharon Firth told the inquest the property was in a poor state of repair with the electricity regularly cutting out.

Mr Blizzard, 55, died after he was dragged from the house on August 2, 2010. Mrs Firth and her children had their first opportunity yesterday to thank Colin Irwin, who rescued Mr Blizzard.

The inquest is examining whether smoke alarms were fitted in Mr Blizzard's home and whether they were working.

Ms Howe said she was concerned for several years about the condition of the house and its various tenants.

She said she rang the council three times and wrote to them once, but never received a reply.

The property's owner, Mirelle Brockett, said she believed it was her responsibility to ensure that smoke alarms were fitted and working, but said she relied on the agent to keep her informed.

The agent, Robert Rees, told deputy state coroner Mark Buscombe that he and his maintenance staff often checked smoke alarms when they visited properties, but he agreed there was no formal protocol at his agency for ensuring that alarms were checked each year.

He said the home was "habitable" and he did not receive any reports about the house's electrical wiring.

He said it was the tenant's responsibility to ensure alarms were working and that the tenant paid for the alarm's battery while the landlord paid for the installation and upkeep.

Mr Rees provided a tax invoice from an electrician that stated smoke alarms were installed before Mr Blizzard moved in in 2006.

Mr Rees said there were notes on inspection reports that confirmed there were alarms in the house.

However, Ms Howe said the only smoke alarm she heard on the night of the fire was from her home.

A crime scene officer told the inquest he found some plastic debris in the house that could have been a smoke alarm or something else such as light fittings.

The fire began in the kitchen, but the officer could not confirm what started it.

The inquest was adjourned for one month so more inquiries could be made.