Fire safety for tenants in rented accommodation

While landlords are primarily responsible for the implementation of fire safety in any private rented accommodation, it is essential that tenants are aware of their landlord’s responsibilities, as well as their own. As such, this brief guide aims to make you, as a tenant, aware of what safety and security features should be in place to ensure you are safe in the event of a fire

Fitted and working fire and carbon monoxide alarms

The landlord is required to test both of these alarms at the beginning of the tenancy period, but after that, the responsibility for checking the alarms falls to the tenant. However, if there is ever any problems with the alarms, then it is vital that you contact the landlord and get them to have an expert come and fix the system; any mistakes during the process could endanger your life and those of other tenants, so it is essential that the work be done by a qualified engineer.

Secure fire doors and internal fire doors

Fire doors are specially designed doors that help to prevent the spread of fire and smoke to other areas of the accommodation. Internal fire doors often hinder the spread of a fire for 30 minutes or more, whereas more robust outer fire doors can withstand the flame and heat for even longer periods of time, giving tenants an extended window to escape from danger, and proving extra time for emergency services to arrive. All fire doors and internal fire doors must be checked by the landlord upon renting out the property, and it is a tenants’ responsibility to alert their landlord of any damage to the doors, to ensure that their safety features have not been compromised.

Firefighting equipment should be provided

Landlords of houses with multiple occupants are required to provide suitable fire equipment such as extinguishers and fire blankets throughout the property at appropriate locations, especially in high risk areas such as kitchens. At least one fire extinguisher of the correct type should be provided for every floor, and every kitchen should contain at least one fire blanket. Again, it is the landlord’s responsibility to ensure that this equipment is regularly tested, although any damage or concerns should be reported by the tenant immediately.

While there are other rules and responsibilities, these are the main ones. If you have any concerns or questions regarding the correct fire safety standards for rented properties please see the latest Government advice.

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