New Government measures to keep tenants safer
On October 1 all landlords in England, or agents acting on their behalf, will be required to install smoke alarms on every floor of their property and test them at the start of every tenancy.
The move will help prevent up to 26 deaths and 670 injuries a year.
England’s 46 fire and rescue authorities are expected to support private landlords in their own areas to meet their new responsibilities with the provision of free alarms, with grant funding from government.
Housing Minister Brandon Lewis said:
In 1988 just 8% of homes had a smoke alarm installed – now it’s over 90%.
The vast majority of landlords offer a good service and have installed smoke alarms in their homes, but I’m changing the law to ensure every tenant can be given this important protection.
But with working smoke alarms providing the vital seconds needed to escape a fire, I urge all tenants to make sure they regularly test their alarms to ensure they work when it counts. Testing regularly remains the tenant’s responsibility.
Landlords would also need to install carbon monoxide alarms in high risk rooms – such as those where a solid fuel heating system is installed.
Those who fail to install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms would face sanctions and could face up to a £5,000 civil penalty.
This would bring private rented properties into line with existing building regulations that already require newly-built homes to have hard-wired smoke alarms installed. And it’s in line with other measures the government has taken to improve standards in the private rented sector, without wrapping the industry up in red tape.
To learn more about the new Government measures to keep tenants safer call 020 7350 2511 to speak with a member of our staff.
1 Press release Tenants safer under new government measures March 11 2015 Available (Online) https://www.gov.uk/government/news/tenants-safer-under-new-government-measures#content