Rented accommodation
One of the problems is that rented accommodation may not always be well maintained.
Even if you think it’s your landlord’s responsibility to take the necessary fire safety precautions, don’t leave it to them. If you can’t get your landlord to make your house safe, do it yourself – it could save your life.
Landlords don’t always have a legal responsibility to fit a smoke alarm, but under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 they must make sure there are adequate escape routes. Depending on the size of the property, they may also have to fit smoke alarms and provide fire extinguishers.
By law, your landlord must:
- make sure that all the gas appliances they provide are maintained in good order and that a Gas Safe registered engineer carries out a safety check each year.
- maintain all electrical installations (eg fixed wiring) and any electrical appliances they provide (cookers, kettles and so on) and make sure they are safe to use.
- make sure any furniture and furnishings they provide meet the fire resistance regulations.
- contact your Citizens’ Advice Bureau or an environmental health officer at your local council for further advice.
- parents may wish to check the safety of student accommodation. If you have concerns about the standard of the accommodation you should contact the university for advice.
- if you live in sheltered accommodation or a residential home, ask your landlord or warden to explain the safety plans for the premises and make sure you know your safest exit route, or ask your carer to contact our Vulnerable People team.
- rented accommodation often consists of bedsits or flats which have risks of their own to consider.
Advice and information for leaseholders in high-rise properties
If you are a leaseholder, the government provides extra advice and information free of charge.