Since October 2015 it has been a legal requirement for landlords in England to ensure that at least one smoke alarm is installed on each storey of their rental properties, and that carbon monoxide monitors are fitted in every room with a solid fuel heating appliance such as a gas boiler or fire.  These regulations apply to houses, flats and HMOs. Failure to comply can lead to a £5000 penalty being issued.

Did you know that you are 8 times more likely to die in a fire if you do not have any working smoke detection in your home; therefore it is important that you do your part as a landlord to keep your tenants safe and stop any preventable deaths.   Here is some advice from Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue:

Fitting alarms

Smoke and heat detectors

The British Standard BS 5839-6:2019 recommends that smoke and heat alarms be installed:

·        On the ceiling, as central as possible in the room

·        Sited 300mm from walls and light fittings – this ensures the alarm is out of any ‘dead air’ spaces where the airflow may be blocked

·        Placed within 3m of every escape door and bedroom door to ensure audibility

·        Positioned between high risk rooms and bedrooms

·        For peaked and sloped ceilings – make sure there is a maximum of 600mm vertically down from the apex for smoke alarms, and 150mm vertically down for heat alarms

Carbon monoxide alarms

The British Standard EN 50292 standard recommends that a CO alarm should be installed:

·        Between 1m–3m from all potential sources of carbon monoxide (fuel burning appliances)

·        Sited 300mm from walls and light fittings – this is to ensure that they are outside of any ‘dead air’ spaces that occur in corners and spaces where the airflow may be blocked

·        If the fuel burning appliance is in a confined space (e.g. a boiler room) then the alarm should be sited on the ceiling just outside the room

·        If there is no fuel-burning appliance, then place the alarm at breathing height e.g. bed’s head height in bedroom

Hard of Hearing alarms can be fitted for those with hearing impairments.  These alarms are connected to a vibrating pad and flashing strobe light which activate when the smoke alarm does.

Testing and Maintenance

After the initial test on the first day of the tenancy, tenants are responsible for testing alarms regularly - we recommend they are tested once a week. Alarms should be cleaned regularly to prevent dust build up.

It is the landlord’s responsibility to fix or replace any faulty alarms as soon as they are reported. Sealed smoke alarms have a life span of around 10 years and need to be replaced after this time. 

Fire Safety Advice

We recommend giving some fire safety advice to your tenant at the start of the tenancy including:

·        testing the smoke alarms

·        closing internal doors at night

·        Not overloading plug sockets

·        keeping escape routes clear

·        Creating an escape plan

For more information visit: Home fire safety – Lincolnshire County Council

Do any of your tenants fit any of our SHERMAN characteristics?

They could potentially be more at risk of a fire and may benefit from one of our Safe and Well Checks.  Our Safe and Well Checks include fire safety advice, as well as advice to help improve their health and wellbeing.To request a check visit our website: https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/home-fire-safety/request-safe-well-check Or call 01476 565441