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Fire Safety Compliance in London: Fire Risk Assessments Q&A.
Landlords and owners of residential buildings have a legal obligation to ensure that a fire risk assessment is carried out. This assessment aims to identify and eliminate any fire risks and hazards, or at the very least, to reduce these to the greatest extent possible.
Do landlords need a fire safety certificate for their properties?
All landlord properties must undergo a fire inspection. Landlords are responsible for reducing the risk of fires on their properties to keep their tenants safe.
What is a Fire Risk Assessment?
Examination of your building and its occupants from the viewpoint of fire safety. To keep people safe in the event of a fire, it is important first to identify and assess the risks and then implement additional safety measures.
Is a fire risk assessment mandatory under law?
Fire safety inspections are mandated by law. If you are the employer, owner, or occupier of non-residential property, you are legally obligated to have a Fire Risk Assessment conducted by someone qualified. This includes both commercial and residential properties.
What are my responsibilities as a Landlord?
Landlords have a critical role in ensuring the safety of their tenants by adhering to the laws governing fire prevention in residential rental buildings. In order to protect their tenants and their property, landlords must adhere to a number of regulations. Landlords are obligated to do the minimum of the following:
Incorporate smoke detectors on all levels, and set up carbon monoxide detectors.
Make sure your renters always have an escape route in case of an emergency.
Ensure that the provided home furnishings are fire-resistant.
If there are multiple people living in a large house, be sure to install smoke detectors and fire extinguishers (HMO)
HMOs are subject to stricter regulations than other types of rentals, so it is essential that you speak with a local, reputable firm to learn the specific rules that apply to you.
Are tenants responsible for fire safety?
Landlords have a duty of care and legal obligation to ensure a fire-safe environment for their tenants, but tenants also have a role to play in keeping rented homes fire-free.
Tenants are responsible for ensuring that all possible measures are taken to reduce the fire risk throughout the building. This can be made easier with open lines of communication between the landlord and tenant.
What should you do if your property catches fire?
It is critical to act quickly in the event of a fire in order to save lives:
If it is safe to do so, use a fire extinguisher or fire blankets to put out the fire.
Call the emergency services at 999 and request the fire department.
Before allowing anyone to re-enter the property, ensure that it is safe.
Notify your insurers of the situation and begin the claims process. They will advise you on your next steps.
The significance of insurance
It is critical to have landlord insurance in place to protect against fire risk. Coverage will not prevent damage from occurring, but it will assure you that you will not be out of pocket for the cost of any repair work and the cost of lost income or temporarily rehousing your tenants.
You must also comply with relevant fire safety regulations to pay out any fire claim. You risk hefty fines or even a prison sentence if you do not follow fire safety regulations and do everything possible to reduce the likelihood of a fire. More importantly, you jeopardise your tenants' safety, potentially endangering their lives.
Conclusion
Periodic fire risk assessments are both a legal requirement and best practice for many rental properties. They identify potential fire causes, potential hazards, and precautions the landlord should take to reduce the likelihood of a fire.
Contact Metro-PAT 24/7 Limited today to book your Fire Risk Assessment in London.
Call our team on 020 3600 9964
Email us: admin@metro-pat.co.uk
Or, book our fire safety services online.
Fire Risk Assessments for Landlords in London | London Fire Risk Assessments