What Safety Precautions do Landlords Have to Put in Place?

There are a number of responsibilities that landlords hold in relation to running their property, one of which is complying with all relevant fire safety legislation.

Fire Risk Assessment

All landlords must adhere to the Housing Act 2004, and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety Order) 2005. The former applies to all residential properties, whereas the latter only applies to some.

Where their property houses multiple tenants, the landlord is known as the ‘responsible person’. This means that they are tasked with ensuring that their building meets all relevant fire safety regulations. One of the key obligations that a landlord has with regards to fire safety is the job of carrying out a fire risk assessment. A fire risk assessment includes:

• Identifying fire hazards
• Identifying people at risk
• Evaluating, removing or reducing the risk
• Protecting people from any risks
• Recording findings from fire risk assessments
• Implementing training for any staff/contractors
• Reviewing the assessment regularly

A fire risk assessment will ensure peace of mind for both you and those who inhabit your  building. Any elements that do not meet fire safety standards can be fixed or replaced, and by reviewing the risk assessment regularly, you can ensure you stay on top of the fire safety standards in your building.

Escape Routes

All tenants must be made aware of the available escape routes, and these routes must be unobstructed and clearly signposted. Any escape route should culminate in a safe, agreed assembly point. If your building does not already have escape routes, fire escape ladders may need to be installed.

Emergency Lighting

Fires can cause a great amount of chaos and panic, and when there are several people in a small area, this can make organising an quick exit very difficult. When you add darkness into this equation, the panic can be multiplied. Emergency lighting needs can differ depending on the number of tenants and the type of property you own. For example, if you own a house or houses that have been converted to self-contained flats, then emergency lighting is a legal requirement. However, for some accommodation, the need for emergency lighting depends on the complexity of the escape route and the existence of ‘borrowed light’. Make sure you know which category your property falls under so you can adhere to the regulations.

Here at City Fire we are proud to be a leading independent fire protection company, specialising in the supply, installation and repair of a wide range of fire safety equipment. As well as this, we also provide fire safety training and PAT testing to ensure that both you, your property and those within it adhere to all fire safety regulations. Get in touch to find out more.