Labour MP Nick Raynsford has called for it to be mandatory for all private rented properties to have working smoke alarms fitted.
Speaking during the Department of Communities and Local Government question time, Raynsford said: ”In its consultation earlier this year on the future of the private rented sector, the minister’s department proposed the possibility of extending a requirement to have working smoke alarms fitted in all private rented units.
“I understand that there has been overwhelming support for that in the response to the consultation, and I would welcome an indication from the minister as to when the government intend to act on this recommendation.”
Housing and planning minister Brandon Lewis replied: "As soon as we are ready to respond to that consultation, the Right Hon. Gentleman will be among the first to know.”
Former housing Minister Raynsford has been campaigning on the issue for some time.
He explained: “Real progress has been made in the past decade to reduce the number of domestic fire deaths, but much more can be done. Almost one in five privately rented homes still do not have a smoke detector, putting over 650,000 households at increased risk of death.
“When installing a sealed smoke alarm with a 10-year battery costs about £15, it is absurd to call this a regulatory burden. It is a matter of life and death. Without a smoke alarm, you are four times more likely to die in a fire.”
He continued: “Private tenants know that when they move into a property, by law their landlord must issue a gas safety certificate. Let’s make it the same for smoke alarms. I call on the Government to bring forward this simple yet lifesaving measure without any further delay.”
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Comments
Having spent the last 15 years working in the private sector and the latter 8 years as a regulatory housing standards officer I can't understand how compulsory mains powered smoke detection hasn't been brought in. I've been to many fires and seen some truly horrible sights and all for the price of a smoke detector.
It beggars belief that GB has put the comment he has. Quite typically a poor landlord I will assume. Pretty much the same as I deal with every day. The law states that you must pay due diligence to safety within your properties and this is borne out by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the Sleeping Accommodation guide and the Housing Act 2004 all in conjunction with the LACORS Fire Safety Guidance manual.
You can't put a price on anyone's head so what is the big deal about installing hard wired and interlinked mains powered detection? They cost around £60 per head including all wiring to install and are deductible against your tax. If you have insurance they'll also keep your insurance company on the right side of the payout regime when you do suffer smoke and fire damage. The bigger picture is that as a landlord you must conduct a fire risk assessment of your property either yourself or if you are not competent enough by another person or company to identify any fire risks. Failure to do so could render you at fault and potentially land you in prison for injury or death.
Give your local fire service technical fire safety officer a call. They do it for free and its their duty to do so.
How about, as it is only £15 the tenants fit them themselves instead of being part of the something for nothing brigade