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St Helens landlords warned to comply with new smoke alarm rules
Posted On Oct 02 2015
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“Landlords may also be fined up to £5,000”.
Guidance will be published that will help protect tenants against unfair eviction and ensure they are more aware of their rights and responsibilities.
“Any failures by landlords will be treated with a zero tolerance approach including these new regulations once they are implemented”, said Cllr Lawton.
Despite the last minute nature with which this new law has been introduced, and the lack of an effective communications campaign to alert landlords of the new requirements, both sets of regulations have come into effect today, 1 October 2015.
The new legislation means it is now compulsory for private landlords to fit smoke alarms on every floor of the property as well as carbon monoxide alarms in properties which burn solid fuels.
It is estimated this could help prevent more than 25 deaths and almost 700 injuries a year.
Housing Minister Brandon Lewis said: “We’re determined to create a bigger, better and safer private rented sector”.
The Trading Standards Service has issued a warning to agents, landlords and consumers after independent tests on CO carbon monoxide alarms found that eight out of 10 failed.
“These alarms will be allocated as part of an overall free home fire safety check on each property”.
“These changes will help save lives by ensuring all landlords install alarms in their properties, giving tenants the vital seconds they need to escape”. The regulations deal with smoke alarms, the information to be given to tenants at the start of a tenancy and the all-important “section 21 notice”.
Ahead of the regulations coming into force, all Fire & Rescue Services – including Humberside – have been provided with a limited supply of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms by the Government under the, to be distributed to landlords free of charge.
The private sector housing team has been working with landlords to raise property and management standards through a voluntary property accreditation scheme since 2009.
