A new awareness campaign urging landlords to go above and beyond the minimum requirements of the government’s new alarms legislation for private rental properties is set to boost demand for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
From October 2015, proposed legislation will require private sector landlords to install working smoke alarms on each floor of their property and a CO alarm will need to be installed where solid fuel appliances, such as log burners and coal fires, are present.
Led by FireAngel, the ACT NOW! campaign advises private sector landlords on best practice and the benefits of installing a more comprehensive package of smoke, CO and heat alarms.
To provide extra protection, ACT NOW! is recommending that landlords install carbon monoxide alarms in any room at risk of potential leaks and to also consider installing heat alarms in kitchens.
Demand for smoke, CO and heat alarms is expected to increase over the coming months, as landlords take steps to comply with the legislation and improve fire safety across their property portfolios, as Kevin McCann, Marketing Manager, explains:
“Sadly, individuals are four times more likely to die in a house fire if there isn’t a working smoke alarm fitted, so this new legislation is another important step towards ensuring that more people and properties are protected from fire.
“However, there are further measures that can be taken to provide more effective protection in rented homes, which could still be at risk from CO. The legislation requires landlords to fit carbon monoxide alarms in all rooms with solid fuel appliances, but we’re encouraging landlords to go above and beyond this, by installing alarms in all rooms that could be at risk from deadly CO leaks.”
All smoke alarms installed must meet the relevant British Standards and landlords will be responsible for ensuring that all alarms are in full working order, at the start of every new tenancy. Any landlord found to be breaching the regulations could receive a fine of up to £5,000.
The brand of choice for the UK Fire and Rescue Services, FireAngel offers a comprehensive range of easy to install smoke, carbon monoxide and heat alarms. All alarms are available with tamper proof sealed for life batteries.
To learn more about the ACT NOW! campaign, visit www.fireangel.co.uk
