Property Letting Agents and Landlords - Are You Ready for the Change in law

As announced recently by Housing Minister Brandon Lewis, from 10th October 2015 Landlords and Letting Agents will be required by law to ensure working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are installed in rental properties in England.

Why do you need to install a CO detector?
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents reports that there are approximately 50 deaths per year and over 1100 hospital admissions annually as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning in the UK. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a tasteless, colourless and odourless gas that is produced by incomplete combustion. A common source of CO in a domestic property would be a faulty appliance such as a boiler.

According to statistics gathered since 1998 residents of rental properties are on average three times more likely to suffer a CO related incident.

Although landlords are already obliged to have a yearly check carried out on any gas appliances, this alone cannot guarantee protection from carbon monoxide.

Advice from the Health and Safety Executive already states that a CO detector should be installed in rental properties, but this has always been down to the discretion of each landlord or letting agent. From October 2015 it will become law that that any high risk room, i.e. those containing a heating appliance, must have a CO detector installed.

What happens if you don’t act on these changes?
Failing to comply with the legislation planned to come into force from the 10th of October 2015 will leave you open to a penalty of up to £5000.

Private landlord, a professional landlord, or a letting agent, you must consider the effect this legislation will have on your portfolio.

London Fire Risk Assessments offers a Fire Safety Service London if you need some friendly advice call 01689 890879

Fire Safety Risk Assessment for a Building in West London

We were recently appointed to carry out a Risk Assessment on a Building in Chiswick – the Client had just converted the Loft area into a modern Flat and after an inspection by Building Control the conversion was granted full approval. All that was left for the Client to do was to arrange for a Fire Risk Assessment of the whole building in order to meet Fire Safety regulations and insurance requirements.

What surprised our Assessor when he carried out his inspection was that whilst the newly realised Flat met all the standards Building Control had paid no attention to the Fire Separation for rest of the Building!

For example: the single escape route for the Building was not protected and the Doors and Door sets to the other Flats were not Fire Resisting. 

Whilst the converted Loft Flat had a Fire Alarm system installed Building Control had not identified the LACORS (Local Authorities coordinators of Regulatory Services. Local Government Regulations) requirement for the Flats and the common areas to be in receipt of an interlinked alarm system. The Fire Risk Assessors described the premise as “ a Palace at the end of minefield”. 

London Fire Risk Assessments advice to customers: If you are considering converting or carrying out major refurbishment on just a part of a Building think how the changes you make will affect the rest of the Building – its called joined up thinking! If you need some friendly advice why not use our Fire Safety Services London and the surrounding areas. Alternatively give us a call on 01689 890879

Fire Protection Safety Services in London

Who can I trust when I am looking for a company to provide a Fire Protection Safety Service there are so many?? A question frequently asked by customers – How can I be sure you are the ‘Fire Safety Experts’.

London Fire Risk Assessments obviously outline their credentials and provide a quotation for the Fire Risk Assessment package which suits their premise best.

In addition, rather than leave a customer to select a random Fire Protection Safety Service Company via the internet we suggest that they contact The Institution of Fire Engineers  - a long established and highly respected professional body that has a register of Fire Risk Assessors that are fully qualified and will provide them with a suitable and sufficient Fire Risk Assessment.

London Fire Risk Assessments advice to customers – always check that the company you are going to appoint is fully qualified and fully insured.

For more information contact us on 01689 890879