As a Landlord have you done enough to reduce the likelihood of a fire in your rental property?

Landlords must ensure that their property is safe from various hazards, so their tenants are safe in the property. Here are a quick 8 points you should consider when assessing the risk of fire in your rental property:

1.       Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

Ensure there is a smoke alarm on each floor, and they are tested at the start of each tenancy and encourage the tenants to check the smoke alarms on a monthly basis. Although carbon monoxide alarms are only legally required where a solid fuel burner is installed, we would strongly recommend that they are installed in all properties with a gas boiler as well. They cost about £10 and you can sleep easy knowing your tenants are safe.

2.       Fire Blankets / Fire Extinguishers.

Fire blankets are a must in every kitchen, do make sure they are placed in an accessible location so they can be reached quickly and are not too close to the cooker.

Fire extinguishers can be really valuable in case of fire, but it is worth checking with your council on this as some fire departments aren’t keen on them as it encourages tenants to re-enter the property and fight the fire which can lead to fatalities. If they are in the property make sure they are serviced, and the tenants are trained in there use. The best policy is Get out, stay out and call 999.

3.       Fire Risk Assessments.

These can often be overlooked when letting out a property. The assessment will identify the causes of fires and assess the likelihood that a fire could break out in a property. They will show the potential hazards and the precautions you could take to mitigate these risks. Don’t forget that the risk varies depending upon the tenants you have in the property i.e. elderly, young with babies, disabilities etc.

4.       Access to Escape Routes.

Should a fire break out, tenants must have a safe and reliable way to escape, especially in HMO properties which can get cluttered with bikes, furniture etc

5.       Fire safe furnishings

When a property is rented furnished a landlord must ensure that it meets fire safety standards and is made from fire resistant materials. This information can usually be found by checking that the manufactures label carries a fire safety symbol.

6.       Electrical safety

Landlords must ensure that electrical wiring, sockets and fuse boxes are safe throughout the tenancy, however there is currently no legal requirement to have this checked professionally! (unlike gas where you must have an annual gas safety inspection). Hopefully a new government will make this test mandatory as it is for HMO properties, this is where standards need to be driven in the private rented sector.

7.       Portable appliance testing.

Landlords need to ensure that any electrical appliances provided are in a safe working order. The check should be visible (signs of damage or wear) and operational. Although not compulsory it is highly recommended to ensure your tenants are safe in your property.

8.       Ban smoking inside.

Most people are now accustomed to smoking outside in bars and restaurants, so banning them from smoking inside a residential property is no big stretch. A study a few years back found that cigarettes were responsible for one-in-three deaths related to accidental house fires. It will also have a beneficial affect on your decoration, carpets etc