As winter approaches the risk of property fires grow.  It’s never been more important therefore for landlords and agents to ensure their rented properties are safe and protected against fire and smoke damage.

According to figures released by a letting insurance specialist, people living in shared or rented accommodation are seven times more likely to have a fire in that property.

Let Insurance Services has advised landlords and agents across the UK to ensure smoke alarms are fitted in all rented accommodation including individual apartments and flats in blocks.  The company cites a recent fire that threatened to totally destroy a seven-storey block of flats in North London this year.  This fire is thought to have been started by a defective fridge freezer and highlights the importance of installing smoke detecting equipment inside properties.

It’s mandatory for owners of public and private commercial premises to fit smoke alarms, but as yet this rule has not been made mandatory for the buy to let industry.

Michael Portman, MD of Let Insurance Services, said: “Not having a working smoke alarm doubles the risk of death and with over 27,000 fires a year across the UK, there needs to be a change in legislation.

“Out of 50 people killed in house fires in West Yorkshire over the past five years, 48 were in rented accommodation. What’s more, one fire brigade said that they do 60,000 home safety checks a year and find many alarms that are not working.

“Landlords and agents have a ‘common law’ duty to ensure that their properties are kept free from hazards for the health and safety of their tenants, including fire hazards. We urge all landlords and agents to check that every smoke alarm is in working order and there are an adequate number of smoke alarms are installed.

Blocks of flats may well have smoke alarms fitted in communal areas, but unfortunately smoke inside a flat may have already caused fatalities by the time it seeps underneath a door to trigger the alarm outside.  It’s therefore essential that smoke alarms are fitted inside each flat for the best means of detection.  With smoke alarms costing as little as £5 these days there really is no excuse for not fitting an alarm.

We’ve put together a checklist for landlords and agents that will help to ensure your properties and tenants are kept as safe as possible:

• Fit battery (or mains) operated smoke alarms in your properties. Show your tenants how to test them, and change the batteries between tenancies

• At the start of the tenancy check that the battery works and demonstrate to the tenant that the alarm works

• Check whether your tenancy agreement requires the tenant to ensure the smoke alarm is in a working condition

• At your regular property inspections check the smoke alarms work. If they are not working, produce a new battery at the inspection to fit to the smoke alarm and ask the tenant to pay for the battery there and then

• Check that any working chimneys have been swept

You should also ensure that your property insurance is up to date including building and contents cover and also check the inspection requirements on your policy for periods when the property has no tenants.

Sarah