Despite stringent safety checks and government regulations, UK households still fall victim to over 59,000 house fires a year. If you are letting out a property, it is your responsibility as a landlord to take all the necessary precautions in order to prevent house fires. As well as protecting your property, fire safety measures could also mean the difference between life and death. To help keep your property safe and compliant, we’ve put together this list of useful tips that every landlord should consider:
Checking smoke alarm batteries
With an estimated 30% of UK smoke alarms inactive due to dead batteries or malfunctioning sirens, it has never been so important to check that your devices are fully functional. We simply can’t stress this enough – smoke alarms save lives! As a rule of thumb, there should be at least one smoke alarm installed on every floor, if not every room.
Choosing fire retardant roof insulation
At the end of the day, fire retardant roof insulation could mean the difference between a gutted property and a small amount of internal damage. Modern roof insulation companies are legally required to comply with fire safety regulations, with some offering additional protection and fire retardant credentials.
Electrical safety test
As a landlord, you are legally required to carry out an electrical safety test before welcoming new tenants into a property. All socket and light fittings must be tested while electrical appliances must also be given the all clear.
Fire extinguisher
If a fire does ignite, giving your tenants access to a fire extinguisher or blanket can help to prevent any further damage or injury. If the property is a large HMO, this is a legal requirement.
Escape routes
All landlords should provide their tenants with a clearly defined fire escape route. If you let a property that is located on a first floor or above, this is particularly important.
Fire safe furniture and furnishings
If you are renting a furnished property, you are required by law to check that your furniture and furnishings comply with national fire safety standards.
Landlords insurance
Despite your best efforts, even the most responsible of landlords can still fall victim to a fire damaged property. If you are faced with this worst case scenario, it pays to be covered with a comprehensive landlords insurance policy. This will allow you to rebuild your property, replace and damaged goods and cover any legal fees or court case expenses filed by tenants. As the UK’s leading quote compare website, Compare Crazy offer friendly service, a comprehensive database of providers and the best possible prices on landlords insurance.
The UK is faced with over 500 house fire related deaths a year – don’t put your property and your tenants at risk.
