New regulations re Smoke and CO alarms

New regulations re Smoke and CO alarms

10:10 AM, 14th March 2015, About 10 years ago 63

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What are peoples thoughts on the new legal requirements to install new smoke and CO alarms? New regulations re Smoke and CO2 alarms

Smoke and CO alarms new requirement

The Housing Minister, Brandon Lewis announced yesterday that landlords will be required to have both smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms installed in all rental properties.

The changes are scheduled to come into effect soon after their Parliamentary approval, on 10 October 2015.

Fire and rescue authorities will be directed to provide support with the implementation – providing local private landlords with free alarms.

Brandon Lewis commented:

“In 1988 just 8% of homes had a smoke alarm installed – now it’s over 90%.

The vast majority of landlords offer a good service and have installed smoke alarms in their homes, but I’m changing the law to ensure every tenant can be given this important protection.

But with working smoke alarms providing the vital seconds needed to escape a fire, I urge all tenants to make sure they regularly test their alarms to ensure they work when it counts. Testing regularly remains the tenant’s responsibility.”

The move will help prevent up to 36 deaths and 1,375 injuries a year.

Expectations of a landlord  –

  • Smoke alarms installed on every floor of the rental property, and test them at the start of every tenancy.
  • Carbon monoxide alarms in all high risk rooms – such as those where a solid fuel heating system is installed.

Landlord failing to meet the new regulations could face a maximum £5,000 civil penalty.

Regards

Denise


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John Daley

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15:02 PM, 19th March 2015, About 10 years ago

Not all downside though, DCLG announced today 440 thousand free smoke alarms and 40 thousand free CO detentors available to landlords through the local fire service.

I'd assume that these are the battery type.

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

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15:04 PM, 19th March 2015, About 10 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "John Daley" at "19/03/2015 - 15:02":

Doesn't quite excuse their other blunder though does it? See link below.

How can a Tory Government come up with that???

I'm blue through and through but I'm not a happy chappy today 🙁
.

John Daley

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16:03 PM, 19th March 2015, About 10 years ago

Hi Mark,

I have to say that if you were to spend a couple of hours combing through the DCLG announcements on the PRS released in the last couple of weeks you won't be any happier.

I have posted a few times here over the last 18 months that the sector faces greater regulation and involvement with Goverment. The profile of the sector is increasing and complaining about it is not going to change things.

In some ways the PRS is the victim of its own success, if more people live in the PRS than the Social sector then that is going to become an influential lobby. You may hate Generation Rent but they are increasingly well organised and vocal representing tenants.

It can't continue as an effectively unregulated industry and I mean effective regulation because there is a lot of legislation already existing that is not evenly enforced.

The profile of some of the key problems like overcowding, poor management & maintenance and the conduct of a small number of landlords has an increasingly well researched public health implication.

Goverment is becoming aware that it is spending substantial sums treating symptoms caused by poor PRS housing.

It may be difficult to believe but I am 100% behind the landlord representative organisations and accreditation, however the organisations voices are reduced by very limited membership.

I do think that blindly opposing everything is a waste of time. Making a fuss about smoke detectors just alienates the average observer who probably thinks they are a good thing. On the other hand I'd be worried about a right to sublet but my concern would be that the danger is that landlords control of the property would be reduced and therefore the effectiveness of management compromised..

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

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16:14 PM, 19th March 2015, About 10 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "John Daley" at "19/03/2015 - 16:03":

I fear that you might be right John.

It is conflicting legislation that worries me most though, e.g. if landlords cannot prevent tenants from subletting (as per Budget 2015) how will this impact licensing, insurance, mortgages, checking Visa's etc.?
.

David Sanderson

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10:10 AM, 20th March 2015, About 10 years ago

Back on topic (Smoke & CO Detection Systems Legislation for PRS)

Very good guidance here:

** MODERATED - unauthorised promo link removed **

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

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10:17 AM, 20th March 2015, About 10 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "David Sanderson" at "20/03/2015 - 10:10":

Sorry David, I have had to remove your link, please see our House Rules and business sponsorship opportunities page here >>> http://www.property118.com/house-rules-business-sponsorship/
.

Fed Up Landlord

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14:40 PM, 20th March 2015, About 10 years ago

just read the whole document. Instead of being entitled "Review of Property Conditions in the Private Rented Sector" here is an alternative:

"How to Respond to All The Whingeing Left Wing Pressure Groups and Beat Up The PRS"

But on , gas certs, EPcs and the like, here is something on page 7:

"Provide that where a landlord has failed to comply with certain legal obligations, the tenant cannot be evicted. We envisage this will apply to Energy Performance
Certificates and Gas Safety Certificates. This restriction on the service of an
eviction notice would be lifted as soon as these documents are provided"

So:

No DPS - No Eviction on Section 21
No EPC - No Eviction!!
No Gas Cert - No Eviction!!

I am assuming that the EPC and Gas Cert both apply to Section 21 and not to section 8 evictions.

Now none of us are "whiter than white" - if I can use that in such a politically correct way, but I actually agree with this. I do get EPCs before I market properties, and gas certs, and protect deposits in the DPS- and issue the Prescribed Information...blah blah blah....

So those landlords who don't bother with EPCs - beware. "Well - I can get one done can't I they say"

Not if you have brassed off your tenant with an eviction notice. Do you think they will let the assessor in?

So No EPC. No eviction.

Jireh Homes

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21:18 PM, 20th March 2015, About 10 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Polly Robins" at "16/03/2015 - 10:46":

Picking up on earlier comment from Polly on Scotland PRS regulations (although not applicable to Social Housing Sector). Normally what becomes law in Scotland tends to roll across to England & Wales, although this piece of legislation (Repairing Standard) was an unforeseen link to current Building Regulations as believe slipped in late in the bill development.

Costs will vary on the number of devices and complexity of installation and £500 + VAT is not that unreasonable, although I managed to find a competent electrician at a significant lower cost. They are typically wired into the lighting circuit and radio linking saves on interconnecting wiring, although higher unit cost. Trunking spoils many a property, so check how electrician plans to install.

With CO Monitors, recommend go for the 7 year "sealed" battery and avoid the 1 year cheaper option (as not cost effective).

Michael Barnes

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11:32 AM, 21st March 2015, About 10 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Gary Nock" at "20/03/2015 - 14:40":

1. What document are you refering to?
  can you provide a link?

2. Regarding EPC, gas certs, etc, I believe that the Deregulation Act (when it becomes law) includes a provision for the Secretary of State to introduce Regulations that prevent the service of a valid S21 when certain things have not been done:

“Compliance with prescribed legal requirements

After section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 insert—

“21A Compliance with prescribed legal requirements

   (1) A notice under subsection (1) or (4) of section 21 may not be given in relation to an assured shorthold tenancy of a dwelling-house in England at a time when the landlord is in breach of a prescribed requirement.

   (2) The requirements that may be prescribed are requirements imposed on landlords by any enactment and which relate to—

   (a) the condition of dwelling-houses or their common parts,
   (b) the health and safety of occupiers of dwelling-houses, or
   (c) the energy performance of dwelling-houses.

Steve Lewis

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12:47 PM, 21st March 2015, About 10 years ago

Whilst I already fit smoke alarms (& Fire blankets) I think having to fit one on every floor is rather unnecessary. It makes sense in a large property, but I own 2 one bed starter homes in which the alarm can easily be heard. I have them situated above the stairs as any closer to the kitchen would mean them being set off accidentally & batteries being removed as a consequence.

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