We have asked our landlord to provide emergency lighting in all communal hallways which have stairs - he is saying that he doesn't need to provide it.

Could you confirm that he should be providing this for us in the communal stairways? It is very dark and some of the offices are up two flights of stairs. Our H&S Advisor says he should provide it. Any advice would be most welcome - thank you in advance

If there is some borrowed lighting (light falling into the staircase from the outside) and the staircase is reasonably straightforward, the landlord might not be required to install emergency lighting in a building with 2-3 floors. It depends also from the number of people working in the premises.

There is a relevant fire risk assessment guide for offices, which could help clarify. You could ask your landlord to see his fire risk assessment and the findings in it with regards to the escape route, although the risk assessment will, in theory at least, reflect his own view of the fire risks.

If there is no agreement you could ask your local fire brigade to advise or make a request.

I am assuming you are the Responsible Person in accordance with The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (Art 3) and consequently are required to implement article 8 to 24, in your workplace. Your workplace is defined in Art 2 which states

workplace” means any premises or parts of premises, not being domestic premises, used for the purposes of an employer’s undertaking and which are made available to an employee of the employer as a place of work and includes -

(a) any place within the premises to which such employee has access while at work; and

any room, lobby, corridor, staircase, road, or other place -

(i) used as a means of access to or egress from that place of work; or

(ii) where facilities are provided for use in connection with that place of work,

other than a public road.

If you have control of the common area and are not restricted by the landlord or the tenancy agreement, you are responsible. This type of situation is for the lawyers to determine who has control, and not a fire safety matter other than if an emergency lighting is required or not.

Are landlords allowed to charge tenants for the testing emergency lighting in communal areas and on staircase 

Yes, like any other communal service like common area lighting, cleaning, external landscaping (if gardened), block insurance, etc it would be a typical Service Charge item.