Requirement for landlords to maintain lights in communal stairwell?

[ELM]

Could I ask advice, please? An electircal fault in communal stairway lighting causes the circuit breaker to trip frequently. This activates the emergency lights, draining down the batteries and leaving the stairwell that serves 6 flats in complete darkness until the circuit breaker (in a locked cupboard) is reset. The stairwell is the only route into and out of the block of flats and this has been the situation for nearly a year. Could I ask for some help in finding whether there is some regulation we can wave at the landlord to require them to find and repair the fault? Would the regulatory body be the local authority or fire department? We are in Tower Hamlets and the landlord is Gateway Housing.

Many thanks for any advice.

ELM

[Tom Sutton]

Your premises are subject to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 regulation 17 Maintenance, and the emergency lighting is subject to this regulation. The problem you are having needs to be sorted out so the emergency lighting functions efficiently and correctly. The local Fire and Rescue Service are the enforcing authority.

Check out http://www.firesafe.org.uk/regulatory-reform-fire-safety-order-2005/ and http://www.firesafe.org.uk/emergency-lighting/

http://www.firesafe.org.uk/uk-fire-rescue-services-details/

[Safelincs]

hi ELM

In theory premises must not be re-occupied until the emergency lighting battery is re-charged. This is clearly not adhered to in this case. If the landlord does not see sense you need to inform the fire brigade.

Harry