Landlord Fire Safety

Landlords are responsible for the fire safety of their tenants. The regulations vary depending on the type of property, and which country in the UK the property is located.

By law in England, the requirements are;

• Smoke alarms should be installed on every habitable level of the property, should be tested and in working order at the start of tenancy
• A carbon monoxide detector should be installed in every room with a solid fuel burning appliance, such as a gas boiler, coal fire, or log burner
• Heat alarms are recommended for installation in the kitchen, garage, and unoccupied loft spaces

The regulations do not specify what type of alarms are required, however, it is recommended that wired or wireless alarms are installed so that your tenants have the earliest warning of danger giving them the best chance of escape. Also, alarms with sealed long life batteries which last the lifetime of the alarm, sometimes referred to as tamper proof alarms, mean that tenants cannot remove the battery leaving the property unprotected should a fire break out.

There are different regulations depending on what country your rental property is in. Ensure you are meeting the correct requirements by checking your relevant government website.