London Fire Brigade Free Alarm Giveaway

28th July 2015

With new life saving legislation due to come into force in October 2015, Landlords will be required by law to install working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in their properties.

The legislation dictates that private landlords are to provide smoke alarms on each floor of their rental properties and install carbon monoxide alarms in rooms containing solid fuel burners- such as cookers and heaters- or be faced with fines up to £5,000.

With an increase in untested and unmaintained smoke alarms, people living in private rented homes are far less likely to have a working smoke alarm and are seven times more likely to have a fire according to research from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).

To help Landlords meet the new regulations, the Government has begun making a limited number of free alarms available from the fire and rescue services. This comes as new statistics are released from London Fire Brigade (LFB ) which show that out of all the residential fires attended to in London over the last 5 years, 41% did not have a working smoke alarm.

The new legislation, which is subject to parliamentary approval, also requires landlords to check that all alarms are working within their premises at the beginning of a tenancy. These regulations do not apply to social landlords and Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) as these are both covered by existing laws.

Assistant Commissioner for Fire Safety Neil Orbell said: “The private rented sector provides homes for some of the capital’s most vulnerable groups and there is no doubt that these regulations will make privately rented accommodation safer and save lives. We want to help London’s private landlords meet their fire safety responsibilities under this new law and would urge them to apply for their free smoke and carbon monoxide alarms well in advance of the new laws coming into force this October. Tenants can also play a part in taking responsibility for their own safety by reminding their landlords about the new legislation if there are no smoke or carbon monoxide alarms in their home.”

For more information on the alarm give-away or to apply online for free smoke and carbon monoxide alarms from LFB visit: http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/freesmokealarms.asp

Fire safety management is not only a requirement under UK Fire Safety law, it is also vital in protecting lives, properties, businesses and the environment. The effects of fire can be devastating and costly, significantly affecting reputation, insurance premiums and business profitability. The S2 Partnership has a dedicated team of fire safety experts providing fire risk assessments, training, guidance, fire engineering and fire safety management systems to a range of organisations to protect lives, buildings and businesses. If you would like expert guidance or support on any of the issues detailed, please contact our specialist teams – we’re happy to help.