Landlords

Hi, what are the regulations (if any) regarding fire door locks/cylinder. My landlord changed the locks on my door from a good Kite mark 3* fire rated cylinder to one that is not fire safe and not BS approved either/no kite mark logo ( even online the specs do not list as fire safe or BS approved) I have been trying to tell them they need to replace it like for like as this will likely go against me with my insurance but they are ignoring me thanks

We own the upper 2 floors of a victorian house which was divided many years ago, and we now rent it out. There is a ground floor flat which we do not own, and then the door to our flat opens from the shared entrance corridor directly onto the stair up to the first floor, where the 2 bedrooms are, then continues up to the kitchen, living room and bathroom on the second floor. There are doors only to the two bedrooms and to the bathroom. Everything else is open plan. Question: as landlords, do we need to switch the existing old wood door from the entrance to the stair corridor to a fire door, to prevent risk of fire spreading from ground floor up to our flat?

I have a common part hall way providing access to 3 flats as the only means of escape. I have had a fire risk assessment done and they have said an interlinked alarm is needed between the flats and the common parts. The flats currently have stand alone mains wired systems, the hall way doesn’t have anything. From what I can see in need a grade A cat LD2 system for the hall and grade D LD2 for the flats. I would like the flat systems to be linked by radio signal to cut down on the surface wiring but no one seems to know if such a system would be ok and comply with regs. the building control officer I spoke to said he isn’t familiar with t…

Hi. I'm a long time tenant in a block of flats. After a cursory reading of approved document B and the fire safety order (FSO) of 2005 I think there might be some serious problems with the fire safety. I'd like some advice on whether expert members of this forum agree that there might be some problems and what to do about them as our landlord isn't responsive. The main issue is that the lift, stair well, each flat and external escape don't appear to be suitably compartmented (if that is the right term). Specifically, the lift compartment has holes in it and shares the same plastic roof as stair well. The service ducts in the stair well have open access panels, o…

Three flats share a small communal area where there are electrical meters and water piping cocks. Is there now a requirement for some kind of compartments within the cupboard?

Evening, Following an inspection of a fire door (front door to an apartment leading from a communal corridor - installed circa 2003), it has been flagged that the concealed single Perko closer is not fire-rated: ~ Would this have been acceptable practice at time of installation? ~ Notwithstanding the above, does said closer need to be replaced with one that is fire-rated, or would doing so be "best practice" only (i.e. there is no statutory obligation to retrofit one that is fire-rated)? ~ Is a single Perko, rather than double Perko closer acceptable for a fire door? Thanks.

Hi I have a question in relation to the Fire Door Assessment. mine happened on 12 November 2022. My Landlord is a housing association. They responded that my kitchen and entrance doors need to be replaced but they stated I need to wait for 8 weeks. my question is: how reasonable the 8 week wait time? Thank you, Ana

Hi My client has just bought a mixed use property. The previous landlord didn't appear to be doing weekly testing of the fire alarm. I am struggling to convince my landlord client that we will need to do this so have referenced BS standards. He has claimed that he has been told this isn't necessary by other businesses ? so I have told him he can manage it himself if he wishes. Unfortunately the fire risk assessor did not reference the lack of testing/ onsite docs by the seller so that hasn’t helped me. I have been advised that the fire alarm is linked between shop and common areas (flat staircase) but the two flats have a separately linked fire and smoke alarms.…

I'm seeing a lot of social landlords replacing the timber decking elements of their steel framed balconies with aluminium decking systems. They are doing this on lots of their smaller buildings, not just the ones over 17m etc. Then I noticed a 4 storey new build going up nearby, which were installing wooden decking on wooden joists. What is the law around this? We are looking to replace our decking on our 15m/5 storey building, simply because it's reached the end of it's life anyway. Can we replace it with Class 0 spray-treated timber decking, or is Aluminium the only way to go? Are there any other options eg composite decking Thanks!

Hi Guys, can anyone just help with a quick question, i have a house i let out it currently has two battery fire alarms and a carbon monoxide alarm. The tenant said to the estate agent one of the fire alarms was beeping ( assume the battery was flat ) It is a sealed unit so you cannot change the battery, the estate agent sent out an electrician who has said i need to have it upgraded to mains / hardwired interlinked system with a heat detector in the kitchen to comply with current regulations Is this correct, i cannot see anywhere online where it says this is current law in England ( i understand it is in Scotland / Wales ) ? Thanks and Regard…

I am a resident in a 6 story purpose built apartment block from 1980s. We wish to replace the single glazed windows in the escape stairwell with current industry standard ones Our dilemma stems from what constitutes current industry standards. They presently include 2 Louvre style panels on each floor, which we were told is to allow smoke to be drawn away in case of fire, but by their design are draughty, can regular domestic style windows be fitted with an opening pane on limiters. These are not escape windows just to light the stairwell The floor layout has 4 apartments per landing, leading from this is a secondary landing accessed through fire doors 1 louvere…

Hi, I am trying to find answer to the below and nothing seems clear to me in the regulations? 1. Can I install kick plates on existing fire doors? (F30, flat entrance) 2. Due to a water damage I need to change bathroom door in a flat. There is a boiler in this bathroom - do I need fire doors? It's an open plan living room-kitchen and bedrooms. Bedrooms and entrance to a flat have fire doors. I'd appreciate your help. Thank you.

I have been advised that I must replace the fire door to a flat I rent out. As far as I know some have already replaced theirs. Before I did mine I wanted to make sure that I used the correct standard so I requested this info and also asked if everyone’s door had to be the same. I’ve recently sent a reminder for the details and had this response today ‘The legislation that changes the requirements in respect of fire doors does not come into law until November. I therefore cannot give you any further information at this time’. Ive searched the net for news on a change in legislation but can find nothing and I noticed on this forum that recent advice has been gi…

Tom , i have recently converted a Georgian house and in the basement is a one bedroom flat with a patio leading from the lounge and another leading from the bedroom. I ordered sliding patio doors for the lounge and a tilt and turn for the bedroom so it can be used for venting and access to the patio. This would open into the bedroom. The builder without reference to me installed a regular door opening out onto the patio stating the tilt turn was against fire regs. i don't believe this is the case can you confirm she was correct or could i have installed the tilt option which for a bedroom was the best to allow ventilation while maintaining security for the …

Hey all, I spent c.9h trying to understand the regulations and their nuance and now kindly putting myself into your expert hands for clarity. I live in a flat within a converted building. There are 4 more flats in the house. 3 of which are rented out by their landlords. My flat belongs to my mom and dad, to whom I pay no rent. My parents own a share of the freehold and until 2020 they would rent the flat out as well, after 2020 I moved in. Now my flat shares a corridor to the exit door with two other flats. The landlord of one of this flat has brought in some people that claimed we are not compliant with fire regulations and we need to insta…

Hello, The housing association for the office I rent have requested that I carry out various fire risk assessments such as: Electrical Installation Condition Report Servicing and maintenance of gas appliances Fire & Evacuation drills Employees receive fire safety training & records kept on site Evidence of appropriate fire safety awareness refresher training Weekly fire alarm tests are not recorded Monthly emergency light tests to be recorded Portable Fire-fighting equipment that is not being periodically maintained As the office is rented are these the responsibility of me (the tenant) or do some/any fall under th…

I recently had a fire risk assessment for an HMO property, the risk assessor (a former fire officer) told me that if extension cables are used they should be of a commercial grade which are designed for permanent use. Anything else will invalidate insurance. Does anyone know where extension cables designed for permanent use can be purchased? Thanks

Hi all, I'm a landlord of a flat in a residential block (maybe around 20 years old). There are a few questions that I've been trying to find answers to online but it's not been very straightforward, I'm hoping people here can help! 1) Does the fire door which is the "external door" for the flat leading out to the communal hallway need to have a thumb lock on the inside by law or is it just a recommendation. 2) When a fire alarm beeps but it's a false alarm and this leads to a forced entry to the property, are there any responsibility on the fire alarm company for this given the alarm is only under a year old? 3) My property management company…

Hi, I have a lease on a flat which is in a converted house. In total there are 3 self contained flats, although 2 share a common entrance/communal area. The landlord (freeholder) wishes to install a hard wired smoke alarm and emergency lighting. Given that the conversion to flats was done prior to 1991, I do not believe there is a statutory requirement to install this extra equipment. The individual dwellings are each fitted with battery powered smoke alarms. Many thanks for your assistance, and hopefully, clarification!

As a landlord of a ground floor flat (3 storey block) I've been informed that a door closer is a legal requirement. I bought an overhead one but there is no frame or space above the door for the arm to secure to and I've been told that the closer has to be fitted inside the flat (the door is inward-opening). Pic attached. I'm aware of Perco concealed door closers but the range is enormous and I've read that some don't overcome the resistance of the latch (which is a requirement) and I'm keen not to pay a lot of money for a closer that doesn't meet the necessary standards. Can somebody advise me on my options? Many thanks

we look after a 1 bedroom flat the kitchen fire door has smokes and seals but the flat door doesnt its door stop is 25 mm does this door also need smokes and seals?

Hi, I wonder if anyone can help with the specification of a fire alarm and detection system with the conversion and extension of an Edwardian house into 5 flats over three floors: 2No two bedroom on the ground floor, 2No two bedroom on the first floor and 1No one bedroom on the second floor. The intention was that the flats themselves would have separate systems, however there's a need for an automatic opening vent to be opened on the first floor landing if smoke is detected in the single means of escape stairway. All the flats will also have sprinkler systems. TIA, Mark

I live in an Edwardian property that has been converted into 5 flats over 3 floors. Is a ' breakglass' fire alarm system in communal areas required to conform with current regulations?

Hi, I live in a Victorian terraced house converted into 4 flats over ground and first floor, 2 flats on each floor, all privately owned leasehold, one flat owner has purchased the building freehold, . There is a communal hallway, stairs and landing. Do we need a professional fire alarm system and weekly alarm testing, which seem expensive, one flat owner thinks we do, while 3 think differently, no argument we simply don't know. One flat owner has been told that each flat is responsible for their own flat and the installation of smoke alarms and that the communal area needs emergency lighting. Also that as the house is only ground and first floor, there is little more regu…

Hi, Can anyone please advise what fire alarm system would be required in my hairdressers please? It is a ground floor shop with a small back room containing a tiny kitchenette & bathroom. I have used battery powered smoke alarms in the past but the smoke and steam constantly set them off. Also is it the freehold landlords responsibility to install the system or mine as the leaseholder? Thanks