Landlords have very stringent codes that they need to legally adhere to when making a property safe for its occupants. Fire safety is obviously one of these, so what does a landlord have to do to tick all of these boxes? Having a proper fire risk assessment done by a professional would be key in identifying any health hazards that needed fixing.
The landlord must have the following procedures and measures out in place to be compliant with the law.
- Fire alarms must be provided on every story of a building and a carbon monoxide alarm should be fitted in all rooms that have a useable fireplace or wood burner.
- They should check that every occupant has access to an escape route in case of evacuation at all times.
- Landlords are also responsible for supplying fire extinguishers and alarms if a property is a large house in multiple occupation. This is known as an HMO.
- A house is an HMO if it has at least 3 tenants living there that form one household and a toilet, bathroom or kitchen is shared by all.
- A house is a large HMO if it is at least three storeys high, has 5 tenants living in it and shares all of the facilities available. The obligations that need to be met by a landlord are enforceable by law so ensuring that health and safety standards are met is important for the safety of the occupants as well as the livelihood and reputation of the landlord.