Landlord asking me to pay for additional smoke alarm

ochilmum

Hello, I have a freezer in my understairs cupboard, when my landlord noticed she was upset about it and said it was a fire risk and suggested I shouldn't have it, I stated it's really important to me as I have limited time and 3 small children so prep meals ahead. She asked me to get a smoke alarm for the cupboard which I did. THEN she had an electrician round for PAT testing but insisted she also be there and had him look at the freezer, he said it was fine but we *could* get a linked smoke alarm put in for extra safety, he said it would be about £100. She said she'd do it. THEN she messaged me to say the quote came back at £150 so she doesn't want to pay and the electrician said it was a LEGAL REQUIREMENT to have a linked smoke alarm in there so I have to pay or get rid of the freezer. I looked it up and I can't find that law anywhere but I'm not sure I'm going to win the argument if I start it and I don't want to ruin a fairly amicable relationship with my landlord. I emptied and turned off the freezer for now out of courtesy but it's been pretty annoying not having it. 

Had anyone heard of this law or know for certain it's NOT the law? I'm in Scotland. 

jennifernil

You should already have linked alarms in the house.    What type and brand are they?   How old are they?    The mains powered ones can be rather expensive.

Could you relocate the freezer and put something  else in the cupboard instead?

Gers

ochilmum said:

Hello, I have a freezer in my understairs cupboard, when my landlord noticed she was upset about it and said it was a fire risk and suggested I shouldn't have it, I stated it's really important to me as I have limited time and 3 small children so prep meals ahead. She asked me to get a smoke alarm for the cupboard which I did. THEN she had an electrician round for PAT testing but insisted she also be there and had him look at the freezer, he said it was fine but we *could* get a linked smoke alarm put in for extra safety, he said it would be about £100. She said she'd do it. THEN she messaged me to say the quote came back at £150 so she doesn't want to pay and the electrician said it was a LEGAL REQUIREMENT to have a linked smoke alarm in there so I have to pay or get rid of the freezer. I looked it up and I can't find that law anywhere but I'm not sure I'm going to win the argument if I start it and I don't want to ruin a fairly amicable relationship with my landlord. I emptied and turned off the freezer for now out of courtesy but it's been pretty annoying not having it. 

Had anyone heard of this law or know for certain it's NOT the law? I'm in Scotland. 

https://www.mygov.scot/home-fire-safety/tenants-private  It is law to have interlinked fire / heat alarms in Scotland.  I'm not sure if it's required in the understairs cupboard, nothing about it in the law, however there will be others here who know a lot more about it.

tacpot12

You can turn your freezer back on. As per the link, the requirements don't include having an internlinked smoke/fire/heat alarm in the cupboard under the stairs. You can keep the unlinked detector in there, it is better than nothing. 

There is no requirement in Scotalnd for tenant-owned items of electrical equipment to be PAT tested, but sensible landlords will offer to test anything the tenants have at the same time, as the cost per item is relatively small. 

Send your landlord the link in Gers post. 

glennevis

tacpot12 said:

You can turn your freezer back on. As per the link, the requirements don't include having an internlinked smoke/fire/heat alarm in the cupboard under the stairs. You can keep the unlinked detector in there, it is better than nothing. 

There is no requirement in Scotalnd for tenant-owned items of electrical equipment to be PAT tested, but sensible landlords will offer to test anything the tenants have at the same time, as the cost per item is relatively small. 

Send your landlord the link in Gers post. 

Agree with the above but...

As your freezer is in a cupboard adequate airflow to prevent overheating could be an issue. I would check the freezer manual for the minimum required clearance, sides and back, before switching it on again. If you don't have the manual to hand you can look the info up online. (It could be 15cm all round for example).
Then, assuming there is enough clearance, approach the landlord and start a dialogue. Assure them you have checked clearances which makes it suitable for use in your cupboard. You might also agree to have the standalone alarm.
If it is too tight a fit, you could offer to buy a smaller (narrower) model. It shows you have thought about the issue.

ochilmum

jennifernil said:

You should already have linked alarms in the house.    What type and brand are they?   How old are they?    The mains powered ones can be rather expensive.

Could you relocate the freezer and put something  else in the cupboard instead?

Sorry I wasn't clear, there are already interlinked alarms as per the law around the house, this one would be extra added to the circuit 

sheramber

the freezer needs ventilation to prevent it overheating.

Apart from adequate space around it there should be  a vent or leave the cupboard door open to prevent the cupboard heating up.

It may be considered a fire risk for insurance purposes.

BobT36

Move it to a corner of one of the rooms? 
Generally airflow and ventilation is important. 

ochilmum

Thanks for your comments, it's an older freezer and I don't have the manual but I suspect the space is too tight on the sides if 15cm is the norm. There unfortunately isn't another suitable space in the house as it's pretty small so I will have to get used to the one freezer life again! Sounds like she was pushing her luck (as usual!) with the legal requirement thing though.

ThisIsWeird

Each contribute £75?

MultiFuelBurner

ochilmum said:

Thanks for your comments, it's an older freezer and I don't have the manual but I suspect the space is too tight on the sides if 15cm is the norm. There unfortunately isn't another suitable space in the house as it's pretty small so I will have to get used to the one freezer life again! Sounds like she was pushing her luck (as usual!) with the legal requirement thing though.

However it did make you come here and check so she has done you a favour really?