Landlord Fire Safety Violation?

SeanMozzy

Hi guys, any help much much appreciated.

I feel our Landlord may be violating the Fire Safety Act. It's a one floor, first floor if you will apartment, above a shop on a main road. Front door leads opposite onto living/open kitchen area. Keep walking, and it's a bedroom. Next to front door to the left, the bathroom. This has an open top window.

All other windows, remained locked. Despite asking, and receiving no acknowledgment this remained.

Although not leading to stairs, this bedroom window could have been used for escape.

Is he violating this act?

Thank you

EachPenny

Which Act exactly?

Guest101

You're saying you don't have keys to your windows? Or the windows don't open?

LEJC

can I ask why you want to continue renting a property from a LL whom you may think is unfit....surely you should be looking to move rather than trying to find ways to stay in a property and paying rent to someone you feel is violating the law?

Many windows use generic keys to open them....are you not able to get some compatible keys from a window company?

If it is your safety you are questioning I would consider that perhaps you should seek the answer by sorting the problem rather than trying to pass the blame.

Do you have a link to the act that you believe has been violated....maybe you could post it and someone will then be able to give you the correct advice on the way forward.

Typhoon2000

Yes, which act are you referring to. I know plenty of flats have open plan kitchens and are on too high a floor for a window to be used a as a means of escape.

SeanMozzy

Thank you for the responses, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (2005) is the act I was referring to. I found this extract


A. Windows
All windows should be in good working order and at least one window in each room should open.

Do you think this applies?

Many thanks again everyone

SeanMozzy

LEJC wrote: »

can I ask why you want to continue renting a property from a LL whom you may think is unfit....surely you should be looking to move rather than trying to find ways to stay in a property and paying rent to someone you feel is violating the law?

Many windows use generic keys to open them....are you not able to get some compatible keys from a window company?

If it is your safety you are questioning I would consider that perhaps you should seek the answer by sorting the problem rather than trying to pass the blame.

Do you have a link to the act that you believe has been violated....maybe you could post it and someone will then be able to give you the correct advice on the way forward.

We have since left, and I am enquiring for the safety of future tenants, and to see if he should be made aware of it

LEJC

SeanMozzy wrote: »

Hi guys, any help much much appreciated.

I feel our Landlord may be violating the Fire Safety Act. It's a one floor, first floor if you will apartment, above a shop on a main road. Front door leads opposite onto living/open kitchen area. Keep walking, and it's a bedroom. Next to front door to the left, the bathroom. This has an open top window.

All other windows, remained locked. Despite asking, and receiving no acknowledgment this remained.

Although not leading to stairs, this bedroom window could have been used for escape.

Is he violating this act?

Thank you

my apologies for assuming this LL was your existing LL you did not make that clear in your opening post

Red-Squirrel_2

LEJC wrote: »

can I ask why you want to continue renting a property from a LL whom you may think is unfit....surely you should be looking to move rather than trying to find ways to stay in a property and paying rent to someone you feel is violating the law?

I don't think this is the right attitude, rather lets the landlord off the hook.

Surely, rather than the tenant having to move, with all the associated hassle and cost of that, plus the risk of moving on to an equally dodgy landlord, it should be the landlord that makes the change and is required to comply with all the rules they're supposed to?

SeanMozzy

LEJC wrote: »

my apologies for assuming this LL was your existing LL you did not make that clear in your opening post

I accept your apology, and I too apologise for not making this fact clear.

Thank you.

But back on topic, here is a link to the act I believe the extract has come from. I'm just wondering if anyone with more experience can see if it does apply to us and that particular property.

legislation gov uk/uksi/2005/1541/contents/made

(As not allowed to post links, spaces = dots etc)
But a quick google with its full name should bring it up The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

Many thanks

LEJC

I agree with you to a point...however rather than complaining about an issue if it really is something that is hazardous,then do something to resolve the issue especially if your safety is being compromised as a result of the issue.

My point being that keys to open window locks are reasonably easy to obtain and at low cost,therefore maybe thats what you should do if you feel your safety is being compromised.......after that then yes advise the LL that they may have breached whatever regulation you believe them to have...but surely waiting for a ll to respond is only adding to the situation as I see it that you would rather they respond to make you safe rather than taking responsibility for your own safety
One could also argue that you could have opened windows when viewing the property to check,prior to moving in rather than leaving the situation until now ....after you have moved out to raise an objection.
On the point of the regulation you quote it appears that may only apply to non domestic premises.