Regular Updates

Fire Safety

Unless the rented accommodation is a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) there are no specific fire regulations for residential tenanted properties in England and Wales.

However, regulations do now apply to furniture and furnishings and fire alarms.

The building regulations require that all properties built after June 1992 must have a mains operated inter-connected smoke alarm fitted on every level of the property.

Older properties do not have to comply but landlords would be well advised to provide at least battery operated smoke alarms in the property.

There is no compulsory requirement to provide fire extinguishers or fire blankets in normal tenanted properties, but again, this may be a wise precaution, at least in the kitchen area.

In the event of a tenant complaint or an incident the defence of “due diligence” may be accepted where it can be shown that the landlord or agent took all reasonable steps to avoid committing an offence – you will need documentary evidence of this.