Direct Line home insurance claims that its research shows some 3.8m Britons not having smoke alarms in the home. 

Of those with smoke alarms, just a quarter (24%) test them monthly as recommended by fire safety experts^.A further 6% aren’t sure whether their smoke alarms work, and 27% only have them in one room.

The insurer’s analysis of 2024/25 government fire data reveals the main reasons smoke alarms failed to operate in home fires that caused casualties. 

In 5% of cases, the smoke alarm had no battery or a defective battery. In a further 15% of cases, the fire was in part of the home not covered by smoke alarms or the fire did not reach the alarm (48%), showing the importance of having them in all rooms. In 3% of cases, the smoke alarms had been incorrectly installed, and in a further 4% they had been prevented from operating correctly.

More than a quarter (27%) admit that they have disconnected their smoke alarms from the mains or removed the batteries, nearly one fifth (18%) have ignored the alarm while it was going off, and 14% have covered their smoke alarm with a bag or other material.

Beyond smoke alarms, the research reveals a lack of broader fire safety measures in British homes. Only a quarter of people (26%) have easy access to a fire extinguisher at home, one in five (20%) have a fire blanket in their kitchen, and just 6% have an escape ladder, which are all critical safety tools that could prove lifesaving in an emergency.

Dan Simson, head of Direct Line Home Insurance, says: “Smoke alarms are your first line of defence in a fire, and it is crucial that they are in working order at all times. Many Brits do not have smoke alarms installed, and too many are failing to test them regularly, with nearly a fifth of people who have a smoke alarm not testing it in over six months.

“With recent Aviva research finding that candle fires peak during the festive period, we urge all households to check their smoke alarms and to replace flat batteries promptly. Fire safety isn’t just about having the equipment; it’s about maintaining it to ensure the safety of people and property.”