Fire safety has been a major talking point in recent weeks, and now the government has reiterated the responsibilities landlords have to make sure their rental properties are up to fire safety standards.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Local Government), Marcus Jones, said that all private rented homes should be maintained to a high standard and must be a safe for tenants to live in.
In reference to requirements laid out in the Landlord and Tennant Act 1985, Jones said that “landlords have a general obligation to ensure that they keep in repair the structure and exterior of any property they rent out.”
Items such as white goods must be subject to the necessary safety checks, and if defects are found within the property, local authorities have the power to act if they deem a property unsafe for habitation.
Jones continued: “The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places a duty on housing providers to undertake a fire risk assessment of the common parts of their properties and to put in place and maintain adequate fire precautions to manage the risk that lives could be lost in a fire.”
Landlords are advised to check appliances, ensuring they are registered with the manufacturer, and encourage tenants to mention if they come across any unusual smells or sounds in the property.
For more information, click the below link: