Landlords will soon be required by law to install working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in their properties with the Government aiming to help prevent up to 26 deaths and 670 injuries a year.
New legislation (currently at draft stage) will require landlords to install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in their properties, subject to Parliamentary approval, from 1 October 2015 onwards.
England’s 46 fire and rescue authorities are being called upon to support private landlords in their own areas to meet their new responsibilities with the provision of free alarms, with grant funding from government.
The proposed changes to the law would require landlords to install smoke alarms on every floor of their property, and test them at the start of every tenancy. Landlords would also need to install carbon monoxide alarms in high risk rooms – such as those where a solid fuel heating system is installed. Non-compliance could result in a civil penalty of up to £5,000.
As always, P F Spare Insurance Brokers is keen to keep our clients with Property Owners Insurance or Landlord Insurance policies up to date with the latest fire safety requirements. If you own a single property, or portfolio of properties, and are looking for an insurance broker with access to range of competitive products for this market, including Unoccupied Property Insurance, please contact us.