The Risk of Fire

We’re very lucky to live in a country that is very stringent on fire regulations but, unfortunately, there are still stories that crop up in the news about properties that have been damaged by fire. The dangers of fire are still very real and not something to be taken lightly: landlords who do not take their responsibility seriously are punished very severely in the eyes of the law. What are your responsibilities when it comes to fire safety?

Residential Properties

For most residential properties the legal provisions are covered in the Housing Act of 2004 and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) 2005. These provisions stipulate necessary basic requirements such as fire alarms and fire extinguishers and the full details can be found through contact with your local fire safety prevention officer.

HMOs

The laws do vary for HMOs and more comprehensive fire safety, things like fire escapes, fire safety logs and full fire alarm systems are required. Often the details are very specific so do research your responsibilities. If you own, or are thinking of converting to, an HMO the cost of equipping your property properly is worth considering: things like fire doors usually have to be made of a combination of expensive materials and fitted throughout your property.

Legal Consequences and Insurance

We live in a culture where accidents are always accountable to somebody and many landlords have been taken to court over negligent fire safety provisions. Fires do happen but you need to ensure that you have taken every step to avoid and prevent them. Writing clauses which forbid the use of candles into a contract, installing electric stoves and a total smoking ban can help. Landlord Insurance will undoubtedly help your cause if you have a case to fight but it’s always better to prevent an incident occurring in the first place.

Nobody needs to be lectured on the dangers of fire but the details are sometimes very specific and can be hard to comply with. Your local fire safety prevention officer is an invaluable resource and there is plenty of advice online to help you comply with the exact requirements of your property and your area.