Landlords

Hello, We have wired-in electric radiators/ heaters in our communal entrance halls within a purpose-built block. I presume they are permitted, as they were installed by the builder of the development 15 years ago, but is it better to request that they are removed? I personally don’t like the idea of them being flicked on and off by various people, and potentially left on through the night. Thanks, Gary

Hi,There, I live first floor of a retirement block of three dwellings, the doors to our flats are fitted with supposedly “ Fire Doors “ but mine is well hacked one and a half inch gap at well warped so you can get your fingers in a packet of chewing gum fits the gap, the landlord says we have buy our own to replace, I had permission to use a UVPC door, but that’s not a fire door so I installed a composite door with hardwood core which used to be Rated it since Grenville it’s not and now the Landlords agent says I have installed the wrong one as no Fire Rating, been trying to contact Reading Firebrigade but can not find a non emergency number, any hel…

Hello everyone! I live in a block of flats (5 floors) and want to replace my front door. As it leads onto a communal stairwell, i am aware i need an FD30 door. I am looking at the ENDURANCE firedoors. One company has said that it is fine to proceed, another has said that they are delayed as additional certification has been sought by Endurance regarding their fire doors. I am unsure whether it's okay to proceed with this manufacturer and unclear of how to cross-check. Thank you for your help - Stacey

Hi We are converting a 4 storey house (under 18m) to flats and don't want to remove any of the ornate plaster ceiling coving, ceiling roses and skirting. We do need to lift the floorboards to provide better acoustic separation between the flats. It's very likely we have to provide 60mins fire separation for walls and ceiling between flats and between the common stairway to the fire exits. We may be getting an Approved Inspector and maybe a Fire Consultant to help with come up with some solutions.... However, we don't have anyone to advise yet, so was hoping for some initial guidance on what options we have, that are the least intrusive, but…

Hi Can anybody advise me where I can find a reliable company to carry out a landlord fire safety certificate in Liverpool. My house is a single family occupancy. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Marie

Hello, I was wondering if you could help with a predicament we're in please. We recently bought a house which was being rented out and included the furniture in the sale. We have since found out that several items of furniture (bed bases, mattress and a a couple of chairs) don't have fire safety labels visible although they don't look very old. I read the rules are different for bed bases and mattresses and can't quite tell if we need to replace them. Do you know where we stand with this please? We want to continue renting the house out (it's a house we have bought for retirement but are renting in the meantime so we're not seasoned landlord…

Hi I have to install a fire alarm in a converted large house over 4 floors. There are 7 self contained flats in the house. please confirm which system that is suitable. I think it requires smoke detectors in the communal areas with call points and heat detectors within each flat, is this correct Many thanks in advance.

hi, is there any regulation on whether a 3 storey building split into 4 small flats needs 30 or 60 minute fire doors ? also If it was split before 1991 lacors does not apply is that correct ? if so what does ? thank you

Hello - I am one of 4 landlords for 4 flats in a block, not 'Multiple Occupancy' all discrete with lockable doors. They do however share a stairwell and exit. The building was signed off to all Building Regs at the time about 18 months ago. Question - do the alarms and emergency lights need anyannual test? If so by whom? Many thanks. Lez

Hi Apologies in advance, I wasn’t quite sure where to post this. If it’s in the wrong place please let me know. but it’s driving me crazy and I’m not sure where to look for information. I’m in the process of purchasing a Duplex apartment above a commercial property. We’ve had a full building survey completed and some questions came up about fire regulations. When I asked for recommendations for specialists in this topic to hire for an inspection no one has been able to recommend. The building was built in the 1930’s with a retail unit below which was refurbed in 2010 but still waiting on building regs for this refurb. The duplex has its own entrance and ex…

Hi there I am a landlord and my tenants are asking if the sofa is fire safe. I have asked them to look for a label, but they say they can't find one. I am having the sofa cleaned, so will look for the lable myself, but if I cant find one, how can i find out if the sofa is fire safe? I bought the sofa in approx. 2003, so its about 8 years old. It was bought from a small one off shop and is a designer Italian sofa for about £2000. Many Thanks Sharon

Please could you advice on what type of fire door needed for a kitchen door to ensure if there is fire, it is contained in the kitchen? Thank you kindly

Hi again, In residential properties an electrical safety test is recommended every 5 years. Can anyone advise in the case of a retail unit let by a commercial tenant whose responsibility it is to check the electrics - the landlord or the commercial tenant? Thanks in advance Anthony

I need guidance on open thread staircases with respect fire protection in a HMO. The property is a 3 floor HMO with protected stairway and 30 mins fire door to every room. The staircase from 2nd floor to 3rd floor is an open thread wooden staircase and it is over the staircase from ground floor to 1st floor. I have just had an inspection from Council HMO officer and it was indicated that the underside of the open thread staircase need to be boarded up with plasterboard or similar to prevent smoke rise. While I do not have problem doing it, it does not make sense to me because smoke will just rise through the sides (see photo). I don’t see the need for it because the who…

The freehold co for the building I live in, a house converted into 5 flats on 5 Stories (basement- 3rd floors), has a FRA carried out every 2-3 years, which always requires fire doors to flat entrances, a fire alarm and smoke detectors to be fitted. No such works have ever been carried out. The freehold co states that, in old buildings, by law, they have 5 years after the date of the FRA to implement the works. Of course, every 2-3 years, they have another FRA and the 5 years starts to run from then ... and so on. Could you please confirm if this is a loophole they can rely on and what does the law state about the implementation of works required in the FRA? The last as…

Are there specific rules on when fire doors in communal areas should close in the evening?

Hi, I've bought an office - two floors approx 1700sqft overall. At the moment it has two large rooms and one smaller one, plus staircase and 2 small toilets. I have tenants going in but they intend to install partitioning etc and rework the internals. I gather that they are the Responsible person as regards maintaining fire systems, extinguishers etc as there are no communal areas. I'm confused about fire detection equipment however and have read conflicting information. I don't see how we can install a system and assess risk if we don't know how they are going to lay out the offices, how many people will be in there etc. My original intention was to i…

I am a tenant of a Registered Social Landlord. I live in a one bedroom flat on the second floor, with kichen, living room and bathroom all on the same level. I do not know anything about regulations my landlord must follow but am concerned that some of my neighbours have had alarms/detection measures installed but I have none. Will you kindly tell me what fire or smoke detection/prevntion measure my landlord MUST provide and tell me the relevant legislation so that I may approach my landlord, if necessary. Apologies if I am in the wrong topic on the site or have missed the answers elsewhere. Thank you for your help.

Hi, I’m looking at making an offer on a maisonette that has been deemed unmortgageable for two reasons. The first is a short lease and the second because of a lack of fire doors/exits. The estate agent gent has been very unclear on the fire door problem and only states that it’s because of a lack of fire doors. Is this something that would make the maisonette unmortgageable? The entrance to the maisonette is through a communal front door with the entrance to the maisonette and ground floor flat. There is only one entrance/exit to the maisonette As part of the deal I intend to purchase the freehold of the building. Would it be my responsibility as th…

Hello I've been asked if it's acceptable to install a stair-lift between ground and 1st floor of an existing block of flats (3 storeys in total, 18 units). Current stair width is 930mm (wall to handrail) Rail would be installed on bannister side and would narrow the stair width to 840mm Stair lift when folded/ closed measures 410mm meaning opening to staircase of 520mm when it's not in use at either ground floor level or 1st floor landing. Looking at ADB and various forums my typical response would be that's too narrow, however does a stay out policy influence this? Allow more flexibility? Should equality come in too? Thanks in advance.

There is a communal back door in the property that was always locked, now the landlord has removed the lock, so anyone can exit the building and things are being stolen from the garden is there any way the door could have a combination lock for tenants to exit, and then be alarmed in the event of a fire? kindest regards, Eileen

Apologies if this is the wrong Topic. Would anyone be able to advise me if a Landlord is legally responsible for ensuring fire safety for rooms that have been listed as 'habitable' in terms of having access to an escape window or a protected routes? I know there is guidance for landlords such as the LACORS fire safety document. I am unsure if Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, covers Landlord and residential accommodation?

I'm hoping someone can please help me clarify this situation for me... I have just joined a new company and work in a converted warehouse, the building is 3 floors, huge, and has be separated into offices and studios spaces. There are over 35 small independent business working from here. They own another warehouse two doors down which is similar, and on Friday their fire alarm went off and the building was evacuated. It got me thinking about the building i am based in and i asked the staff a few questions, apparently because this building is a newer conversion we have no fire alarms in place yet. Nothing. not in the private offices, studios, communal spaces or corrid…

Hi, I have just been to a friend's house . She just started renting it and has removed all the internal doors. The house is about 12 years old. I said that it must be a fire risk but she said her landlord said it was fine. Also, she has no co detector anywhere but does have 2 smoke alarms. Am I wrong? Shouldn't there be a co detector and can't doors help prevent the spread of fire? Thanks

Hi, I’m an electrician and have been asked to install smoke/heat detectors in a 3-storey house which has been split into 2. There is already a fully operational fire alarm present ( it’s not linked between the separate dwellings ) but the landlord wants it disconnected and battery backup linked ones installed, I don’t think he wants to pay the maintenance on the alarm. My question is can I install a cat D system or should it stay as it is. I think it’s bonkers removing what’s there to put in an inferior system.