Fire Safety

Zebra

What's the legal requirements for landlords to provide in respect of fire safety?

For example, fire alarms, fire doors, escape windows etc.

The house is a back-to-back terrace.

Thanks.

princesslizzie

Ooh I was going to post the same thing! I'm currently googling to find this out as in a 4 bedroom rented flat we do not have 1 fire alarm, fire blanket or fire extinguisher!

http://www.firepreventionuk.com/rental-property-and-hmo-fire-safety

this isn't very indepth!

jc808

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=landlord+fire+safety+requirements

westv

jc808 wrote: »

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=landlord+fire+safety+requirements

Part of the reason for this forum is for asking (and answering) questions about house buying etc. If everybody who replied said "Go to Google" there wouldn't be much point in having the forum.

G_M

The key question is whether the property is an HMO or not.

A standard rental property (in Eng/Wales!) has no specific requirements other than it must be 'safe'. Clearly if there are obvious fire hazards the LL could be held liable in the event of an accident.

Clearly also, legislation relating to annual gas safety certification and the use only of fire resistant furniture must be complied with.

If a property is a designated HMO (classification varies according local authority - example here) then much more stringenet rules apply.

For more sources on rules generally for rentals, see here.

poppysarah

They are looking at bringing in hard wired alarms in all rented property as law next year I think.

Ask the fire brigade what you should have. They will come and do an assessment free. (Don't ring 999 - find the local number)
They might even give you smoke alarms.

They would rather spend the time coming out to you BEFORE you have a fire.

pararct

poppysarah wrote: »

They are looking at bringing in hard wired alarms in all rented property as law next year I think.

Ask the fire brigade what you should have. They will come and do an assessment free. (Don't ring 999 - find the local number)
They might even give you smoke alarms.

They would rather spend the time coming out to you BEFORE you have a fire.

That will create quite a few unhappy landlords. I had a system fitted last year for a 4 bedroom house and never saw much change from £3500. (Was an optical L2 system).

I would suspect that if they are to bring this in it will have a long lead in time on retrospective rental properties if they insist on it as all....

Zebra

Thanks for the helpful advice.

The house is just a back-to-back terrace not an HMO, so it wouldn't need any particular smoke alarms or fire doors (at the moment)?

That's a good idea about the Fire Service - I'll see if they can give me any advice.

G_M

Given that smoke alarms cost a few pounds (if not free) it's well worth fitting them. However, get the tenant to sign an agreement that they will test them 6 monthly/replace the batteries otherwise it's another maintenance job for YOU.

prudryden

What's the ruling on a tenant leaving a sofa in the flat when they vacate, and the new tenants ask if they can keep it? Probably fire safe, but no tag.

Werdnal

Our flat is in a block, and 2 years ago there was a fire in another flat - usual story, tenant came home drunk, put a pan on and fell asleep!

Our Freeholder researched the rules and regs, and although ours is a block of self-contained flats, rather than an HMO, he decided to approach all the leasholders in the block and proposed that we go for the full "belt and braces" approach. To be honest I am pleased he did, as we got a much better deal pricewise doing is all together, and there are moves mooted in parliament to introduce compulsory mains powered smoke alarms in all rented properties in the future.

We now have heat sensitive sprinkler heads in all the flats, together with a mains powered fire alarm system. All flats also have a fire blanket and extinguisher, and a 30 minute rated smoke/fire resistant entrance door. The whole block also has emergency lighting fitted inside and out, to allow safe exit after dark if the mains power fails. Freeholder arranges an annual inspection of the system and extinguishers, and carries out his own monthly tests of the alarm system.

Whilst this is OTT under current regs, we can rest assured that our property and tenant are now safeguarded and should any rules become more onerous in future, we are already covered!