smoke alarm in council property

Pollycat

Hi
Stranger to this board, just wanted to ask this question:
My elderly Mum has just moved from a warden-controlled council flat to a warden-controlled council bungalow.

There is a carbon monoxide alarm but no smoke alarm.

I did find something on Gov.UK that said:

Landlords will be required by law to install working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in their properties, under measures announced by Housing Minister Brandon Lewis today (11 March 2015).
The move will help prevent up to 26 deaths and 670 injuries a year.
The measure is expected to take effect from October 2015, and comes with strong support after a consultation on property condition in the private rented sector.

I need to get the council out to rectify a few things in the property and would like to know if a smoke alarm should be fitted by law before I ring them.

Thanks

silvercar

I'm not sure whether that legislation only applies to private landlords.

In any case it would make sense. if the council won't do it, you could buy a smoke alarm for a fiver.

Trazy

The fire brigade will come out and fit smoke alarms free of charge

davidmcn

It's definitely not a combined CO and smoke detector?

thesaint

In its wisdom, the law doesn't apply to social landlords.
Maybe they don't have fires?

SnooksNJ

Pollycat wrote: »

Hi
Stranger to this board, just wanted to ask this question:
My elderly Mum has just moved from a warden-controlled council flat to a warden-controlled council bungalow.

There is a carbon monoxide alarm but no smoke alarm.

I did find something on Gov.UK that said:

I need to get the council out to rectify a few things in the property and would like to know if a smoke alarm should be fitted by law before I ring them.

Thanks

Are you sure it's not dual? If not, I would be at my local DIY store as soon as they opened this morning and buying one. Then if I felt like making 20 phone calls and waiting 6 months to recoup £5 I would do so.

Pollycat

davidmcn wrote: »

It's definitely not a combined CO and smoke detector?

SnooksNJ wrote: »

Are you sure it's not dual? If not, I would be at my local DIY store as soon as they opened this morning and buying one. Then if I felt like making 20 phone calls and waiting 6 months to recoup £5 I would do so.

Thanks for all the replies.

I'm not sure if it's dual or not.
I've only seen the property twice and one of those times was during the move on Monday - it was a bit hectic.
I saw the words 'carbon monoxide' on the alarm and didn't take any more notice of it after that.

I'll check tomorrow when I go round and if it isn't dual, I'll ask the council if they fit them and if not, arrange for a friend to do it pdq.

Pretty shocking that the legislation doesn't apply to council properties. :eek:
Many thanks.

Gers

Trazy wrote: »

The fire brigade will come out and fit smoke alarms free of charge

^^^^^^^

This... they are really good and also give advice about the placing of things like toasters etc. My mum had her toaster under a shelf and hadn't even thought about any problem, the fire officer moved it to a much better and safer location.

They bring a pole and fit the alarms really quickly. And FOC.

Link - http://www.fireservice.co.uk/safety/hfsc

AnnieO1234

I would strongly recommend the home fire safety check from your local fire brigade. They will also check things like electric blankets, provide deaf alarms, fat fryers etc especially in your moms situation, free of charge xxx

ReadingTim

Problem with the fire brigade ones is that they're stuck on with those double sided adhesive tabs, and when the batteries run out on the alarm (which they will after a while), you have to peel the alarm off the ceiling, usually removing the paint and plaster in the process.

Manage this without too much damage, and you'll find that the battery isn't replaceable, and you have to throw the whole thing away.

Mojisola

ReadingTim wrote: »

Manage this without too much damage, and you'll find that the battery isn't replaceable, and you have to throw the whole thing away.

That's deliberate - people take the battery out of smoke alarms to use in other things and then forget to buy a new one.

The ones supplied are supposed to last ten years although they don't always go on for that long.