Fire safety responsibilities for landlords
As a landlord, you have key responsibilities when it comes to fire safety and should take appropriate precautions to ensure the health and safety of your tenants. Here, we look at a landlord’s responsibilities in rental properties, with tips on carrying out a fire risk assessment…
All landlords must follow the latest legislation or face penalties such as fines or jail. Fire regulations are highlighted in several different laws:
- Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988/1989, 1993 & 2010
These regulations outline the minimum levels of fire resistance that furniture and furnishings should have in your rental property, which should be suitably labelled to show they meet the specified ignition resistance levels.
- Housing Act 2004
This act describes the fire safety responsibilities that apply to landlords in the UK, including having an easy escape route in case of fire and the fire-resistant material that should be used in the building design.
- Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
This fire safety order states that the landlord (or other person responsible) must conduct fire assessment in communal areas in a multi-occupied residential building, ensuring precautions and procedures are in place to protect the occupants. It only applies to shared communal areas, such as shared hallways in a block of flats.
- Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 (amended in 2022)
These regulations vary to different parts of the UK but most state that you need to install a smoke alarm on every floor and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance. If the tenant reports a faulty alarm, the landlord is obligated to repair or replace it. Non-complying landlords will face a remedial notice and financial penalty of up to £5,000. (The amended regulations take effect from 1st October 2022.)
- Building Regulations
In addition to the above, you need to follow building regulations - responsibility for compliance lies with the landlord.
Carrying out a fire risk assessment
When assessing fire risk, you need to walk around the property and look out for such potential fire hazards:
- Areas that need smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
- Escape routes that aren’t clear or easy to exit the building from
- Electrical appliances that don’t display European or British safety labels (such as CE for European or kitemark for British products)
- Appliances that haven’t been PAT (Portable Appliance Test) tested each year
- Old or faulty gas cookers that are lit using matches rather than a spark device.
HMOs fire safety rules
Houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) have additional fire safety precautions, depending on where the property is. Your local Housing Authority can advise on which regulations apply to your property.
Adequate insurance
As a landlord, you must take your fire risk responsibilities very seriously. In addition, you should also ensure your rental properties are adequately insured against fire and all types of risk, protecting you, your tenants, and the property. At TMD, we can advise and arrange the right insurance tailored to your specific requirements. For further information, please call us on 01992 703 000 or email insurance@mcdonaghs.co.uk