A fire in your rental property could be devastating for you and your tenant. A risk to life, significant damage to your property and your tenants’ belongings, a huge disruption to your life and a huge expense if you are uninsured.

There were more 38,000 house fires in the UK last year and it is the landlord’s responsibility to do what they can to prevent this from starting on their property. From knowing your legal obligations to additional steps you can take to protect your property and your tenant, read on for information on:

Homeowners’ fire safety rules

Landlords have a responsibility to provide their tenants with a safe place to live and fire safety is an important part of this. While there are many ways to keep your property and that of your tenants safe, there is a minimum requirement that all landlords must meet.

The legal obligation of fire safety for rental properties

According to Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms (England) Regulations 2015 And Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 all owners must:

• provide smoke alarms for each floor of their property
• install a carbon monoxide detector in any room where there is a solid fuel appliance (such as a coal fire or wood stove)
• make sure all furniture and accessories you provide are fire resistant
• have clear exits for tenants at all times
• provide fire extinguishers if the property is a large house in multiple occupation (HMO)

It should be noted that these measures are considered the bare minimum and it may be wise for you to take additional steps to protect your tenant and your property.

Do a fire risk assessment of your property

The only other requirement for landlords is to carry out a fire risk assessment of the property. THE Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 states that a “reasonable person” must carry out the assessment.

What is a reasonable person? Most of the time, you will be able to complete the assessment yourself. But if you are unsure or want professional advice, you can call a fire safety specialist.

Here are some of the key things to consider when evaluating your rental property:

• identify fire risks – aside from the obvious hazards like candles and fireplaces, also consider electrical outages, emergency exits and your property’s heating system.
• identify who is at risk – how many people live in the property? Would any of them need extra help getting off the property in an emergency?
• assess, remove and reduce risks – once you have identified the risks, take steps to eliminate, mitigate or reduce them
• make a recording – once you have identified the risks and developed a plan for how you are going to manage them, you then need to document it
• review it regularly – be sure to review your risk assessment annually to stay aware of any new risks

Essential fire safety equipment for your property

Depending on the type of rental property you own, some of these items will be a legal requirement. But all can be useful safety equipment for your tenant to help keep themselves and the property safe.

Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

It is a legal requirement that you have a fire alarm on every floor of your rental property. As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure:

• there is an alarm that works at the start of a rental
• a broken alarm is replaced once you know it is faulty

And you can use a mains or battery powered alarm, as long as they comply with the British Standards BS 5839-6.

Since October 2022, it has also become mandatory to place a carbon monoxide detector in any room equipped with a solid fuel appliance.

Fire extinguishers

It is only compulsory to provide a fire extinguisher to your tenant if the property is a large HMO. But it is an effective security measure to have in your property if you are advising your tenants on how to use it.

Your tenant’s safety is the number one priority and they must evacuate the building if a major fire breaks out. But in cases where there is a small fire, a fire extinguisher can keep things from getting out of control.

Fire blanket

It is not mandatory to have a fire blanket on your property. They are just a simple and affordable tool for smothering small fires.

They are usually found in places where small fires are most likely to occur, such as in the kitchen or near a fireplace. And it’s a good way to show that you’re mitigating the risks you’ve highlighted in your risk assessment.

Again, you will want to communicate to tenants how and when to use a fire blanket.

Communicate with your tenant

Regular communication with your tenant is one of the most important ways to maintain good fire safety in your property. Because you are not present in the property all the time, you will need to rely on your tenant to stay on top of certain things:

• regularly test property alarms
• keep emergency exit routes clear
• inform you in the event of a power outage in the property

And it’s important to outline these expectations in your rental contractsafety therefore remains a priority.

Understanding the 2022 Fire Safety Regulations (England)

THE Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 only concern owners who rent apartments in towers. If this applies to you, here are the main requirements:

• make sure fire doors are fire resistant and self-closing
• provide tenants with information on fire safety, including escape routes, alarm procedures and fire door security
• for buildings taller than 18 meters, provide Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEP) for residents who may need assistance
• install clear and visible signage in stairwells to indicate emergency exits

Insure your rental property

A fire can be devastating for your tenants and your property. Even after taking all these precautionary measures, you could still find yourself in a very difficult situation.

Building insurance for owners can give you the peace of mind of knowing that you will have support even in the most difficult circumstances. If your property burned down and you had to rebuild, homeowner’s property insurance can cover the costs, as well as loss of rental income and liability of owners cover from £2 million.

Do you follow these fire safety rules for homeowners? Let us know in the comments below.

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