Fines for adequate fire alarm systems
Landlords could be fined £5,000 if they fail to install and maintain fire alarm safety equipment, including smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, in their rented accommodation to keep their tenants safe from fire risk.
A legal requirement for the detectors applies, under the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015. This means that any new tenancies created since October 1, 2015, must have this protection equipment in place or landlords could be in breach of the regulations and face hefty penalties for non-compliance.
Each council has the right to decide how to enforce the law and also what penalties to apply to landlords who don’t comply. This means that they can be fined for anything up to £5,000 for failing to provide the following fire safety measures in each of their rented properties:
- Smoke alarms on every floor of their property
- Carbon monoxide alarms must also be installed in any room which contains a solid fuel burning appliance
- It is also the responsibility of the landlord to make sure all alarms are in working order
Council officials can serve a notice on landlords if they think they are in breach of the regulations. This would require them to install and test the required alarms to meet with their legal obligations. The council would be entitled to keep any fines received, but would have to give landlords a reasonable time-frame in which to comply to noticed served on them.
It has been found that the most common reasons why rented accommodation has failed to meet these measures is through either smoke alarms being positioned incorrectly, poor maintenance, and the batteries not being replaced or being removed entirely. All fire safety alarms are lifesavers, but only when they are working properly and are well maintained.
There are already a number of reports of local councils threatening landlords with fines for non-compliance. If you are a landlord then it is advisable that you check to make sure you are complying with the new regulations and have a plan in place to ensure the regular maintenance of your fire safety equipment.
At DRAM Fire & Security, we have the perfect solution for landlords to be able to meet and exceed all the latest fire safety regulations. Listed below are our most popular fire alarm systems currently being used by many landlords across the south of England.
Conventional Fire Alarm system
Ideal for domestic use, landlords renting out property, as well as for small retail units. DRAM Fire & Security can offer you a cost-effective solution that serves as an early warning system to an emergency, and alerts residents, tenants or staff quickly for a smooth evacuation.
Fire detectors can be located at specific points throughout the building. Once a fire detector is activated, the alarm sounds, and the main detector control panel will indicated where the fire is located enabling your local emergency services to quickly isolate and contain the fire before it is allowed to spread to other areas of the building.
Wireless Fire Alarm Systems
We also offer state of the art, modern wireless systems that provide automatic smoke and fire detection services without the need for intrusive and unattractive wiring to be installed. The cutting edge technology of our wireless systems will quickly and effectively detect smoke, fire and heat build-up within a building, alerting its occupants to the danger and enabling them to swiftly escape the building.
No matter what your fire safety security needs, contact our friendly customer service team today and let us help you find your perfect system.