Belvoir Sheffield, the leading letting agent in Sheffield, is warning UK landlords not to even attempt their own DIY fire risk assessments on properties that they rent out.
Rick Flay, Director at Belvoir Sheffield, who offer a wide range of property to rent in Sheffield, said: “Don’t even consider it – it could be fraught with danger.
Few landlords understand the huge amount of legislation governing rented property these days. Fire safety issues have become so complicated and legislation covers so many different regulations for different types of property indifferent parts of the UK, that it’s no area for amateurs.
“Seek the advice and guidance of a professional, because the stakes are too high to go-it-alone.”
Rented property, from new builds to conversions, bed-sits to ‘houses in multiple occupation’(HMO’s) can have their own particular fire safety requirements and need individual appraisals.
Some are subject to regulations governing common areas … others require fire doors …
There are product safety requirements for electrical equipment, plugs and sockets, furniture and furnishing materials.
Gas appliances can kill through carbon monoxide poising …but they can cause fires too.
And electrical wiring needs checking to avoid older properties becoming fire traps.
“There are so many different regulations to prevent fire as well as deal with fire that landlords who try to understand it all are running an unacceptable risk of still keeping an unsafe property,” says Rick who owns the Belvoir Office at Campo Lane in Sheffield.
“Every landlord has a duty of care to tenants and that is central to the whole fire safety issue. If everything is checked that needs to be checked then they’re protected. But if they don’t honour that duty of care then landlords can expect a robust response from fire and rescue or local housing authorities who enforce regulations and prosecute offenders, Rick continued.
“Seek expert advice, then – from local authorities, professional fire safety advisers, or responsible, experienced letting agents such as Belvoir who work closely to help landlords to follow best practice and meet legal requirements.
Tenants have the right to live in safe properties and this means we have to carry out correct risk assessments, take proper precautions, obtain gas and electricity safety certificates and install the right safety equipment from smoke alarms to extinguishers. That’s why there’s no place for guesswork here. This is professional territory.” Added Rick.
Belvoir Lettings Agency in Sheffield is the One Stop Specialists for Lettings including Property Management, Tenant Find, Investment and Wealth Management Advice, Fit-outs and Renovations, Furniture Packs and Investment Property Insurances and Buy to Let Mortgages.
