New fire regulations for rented homes?

New fire regulations for rented homes?

0:02 AM, 19th July 2024, About 5 months ago 14

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Hi, I own a terraced house that is split into two flats, each single bedroom and each let to a single person. They share a front door to the street, a small lobby and a staircase to a landing, off which are the individual (fire) doors to each of the two flats.

There are smoke alarms in the corridor and emergency lighting. The conversion work was done on the flats by myself and my late father on the 1980s.

I was recently the subject of a multiple occupation investigation by the Fire Brigade. I was unaware that “multiple occupation” now means a property with ANY common areas, even just a short entry/exit corridor or a single staircase. The list of ‘improvements’ required by the Fire Brigade runs to several thousands of pounds, including replacing both flat doors as their door frames are not to current standards, providing fire fighting equipment in the common area and a formal fire risk assessment and electrical test certificate specifically for the common area since the certificates and documentation I have only relate to the individual flats.

The Fire Brigade also require DAILY inspections to be carried out and recorded that the entry/exit route is clear of obstructions and the fire alarm and fire fighting equipment is in good working condition.

The report on my delinquencies runs to seven pages.

The property was built in the 1890s and so how it has remained standing is a mystery. I can only assume pure luck on my part. Every time the phone rings I expect to be told 100s of people are trapped in the lift shafts (that I don’t have), or have been overcome by fumes from the exterior cladding (that isn’t present).

Has anyone else been caught out by this change in the regulations, which apparently were introduced at the end of 2023? Another Tory legacy!

Thank you,

Stephen


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havens havens

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16:46 PM, 20th July 2024, About 5 months ago

I know how frustrating this must be. The new rules seem overwhelming, especially since your property was fine for so long. I haven't dealt with this myself, but I've heard of others in the same boat. Maybe talking to a fire safety expert and other landlords could help.

Paul Essex

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13:06 PM, 21st July 2024, About 5 months ago

And then they wonder why small landlords are giving up!

The risk vs reward equation is no longer in our favor.

Graham Bowcock

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14:16 PM, 21st July 2024, About 5 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Paul Essex at 21/07/2024 - 13:06
There is clearly a drive towards more corporate landlords, but surely the issues with Stephen's house need to be addressed as a culmination of generally failing to keep up to date. Tenants should not be put in danger -we live in a civilised country - so they have every right for landlords to deal with these things.

Frankly if landlords cannot do things right then they should give up.

Paul Essex

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15:28 PM, 21st July 2024, About 5 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Graham Bowcock at 21/07/2024 - 14:16
Clearly you believe that the social rented sector should just give up then!

It is so over the top that we are required to meet higher standards than both the SRS and owner occupiers but still criticize us over unaffordable rents. There are plenty of two story housing properties around here that do not have any of this in place.

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