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A recent survey carried out by spareroom.co.uk claims that tenants living in shared rental accommodation are more at risk due to a lack of working smoke alarms. Despite the fact that all landlords are now required to have working smoke alarms and CO detectors installed in rental properties, many are unaware of the recent regulatory changes and have done nothing.
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Tenants were surveyed after the regulations kicked on October 1st this year and less than 60% thought there was a working smoke alarm in their property. Since then, a further 15% claim not to have a smoke alarm fitted at all. 16% of tenants say they have a smoke alarm, but don’t know whether it works.
Are Landlords to Blame?
Whilst landlords are required by law to ensure there are working smoke alarms and CO detectors fitted in rental properties, they don’t have the power to force tenants to keep batteries in them. Rather worryingly, 7% of tenants admit to having removed batteries from smoke detectors, despite the obvious risk.
Landlords Not Clued Up
According to Matt Hutchinson from spareroom.co.uk: “Fitting working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors is now a legal requirement for landlords, yet half remain none the wiser. Professional landlords are the most likely to be clued up on this regulatory change, but the Government will have its work cut out to educate those who don’t already have working alarms in their properties to make them aware of the new rules.”
