Can we ask for a stair rail for safety?

fishpond

Ask the landlord if you can have your own fitted at your cost.

leveller2911

If there is no gaurding (handrail) on the stairs to prevent a child/person from falling off the side of the staircase then the landlords insurance will not cover him in event of a claim for injury.

Its irelavent if he fits a handrail on the wall side of the stairs , he must make sure the outside string of the stairs is promperly guarded.

Building regulations require guarding to the stairs and this has been the case for decades so if the house was built in the last 30 years or so then the staircase does not meet regulations.Even if the staircase was fitted 100 years ago the landlord has a duty of care to make sure the house is fit for habitaion and the staircase has the correct guarding.

He sounds like a typical landlord..........

silvercar

Building regs on handrails

In particular:

Height of handrails Approved Document K states that flights should have a handrail on at least one side if they are less than one metre wide and on both sides if they are wider than one metre. There is no need for handrails beside the bottom two steps of a stairway.

So providing a handrail on one side could be sufficient to comply.

leveller2911

silvercar wrote: »

Building regs on handrails

In particular:



So providing a handrail on one side could be sufficient to comply.

So if he fits a handrail to the wall what stops a child from falling off the open side of the stairs if there isn't a handrail on that side?. As you mentioned Part K states "flights should have a handrail on at least one side" ,The open side should be guarded but there is no requirement for a handrail on the wall side.

martinsurrey

silvercar wrote: »

Building regs on handrails

In particular:

Height of handrails Approved Document K states that flights should have a handrail on at least one side if they are less than one metre wide and on both sides if they are wider than one metre. There is no need for handrails beside the bottom two steps of a stairway.

So providing a handrail on one side could be sufficient to comply.

be careful about reading select parts of the building regulations (from none official sites)

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/buildingregulations/approveddocuments/partk/approved

Section 3 protection from falling

Clearly states all elements of a staircase needs guarding of at least 900mm high (but these don’t necessarily apply to existing structures)

silvercar

Regulations must have changed since a few years ago, when we looked at houses with unguarded stairs. It was a design feature and would have totally spoilt the look to box them in.

As you say, it doesn't reply retrospectively, but for H&S it seems that tenants must live with boxed in stairs and only owner occupiers can enjoy open plan.

xylophone

You are very concerned about the safety of the staircase. If there were to be another accident, especially to a child, how would you feel?

Write to your landlord expressing your concerns and ask him to fit the guard rail.

If he gives you notice you'll just have to find another property which has a staircase that meets requirements?

StuC75

But if hand rails & bannisters stop you falling to the side, what is there to protect you falling stright forward?

sams247

Thank you all for your helpful comments, armed with knowledge and assurances I have written to the landlord and have (politely) asked him to reconsider his view given the matter of health and safety. I await a reply.

Falling forward - I guess a rail of any kind would at least make something to grab onto if reached in time. No rail at all - no hope. I truly thought the stairs were just a little dodgy when a couple of stumbles, but never thought them steep, but when I was knocked unconcious by the fall it showed me how naive I had been.

sams247

Stair rail fitted! Woo hoo! Only took endless conversations (all polite) and a subtle hint about health and safety and we have a solid stair rail. Thank you to all