People living in rented or shared accommodation are seven times more likely to have a fire than are owner occupiers, according to an inventories firm.
With about 400 people a year dying in accidental house fires and faulty electrics and candles causing around 8,500 fires a year, the winter season is particularly prone to dangerous incidents claims My Property Inventories.
It says landlords have a clear responsibility under fire safety laws to ensure that people living in their premises are safe, and says that in particular landlords of shared and HMO properties need to check they are compliant with their additional obligations under both fire regulations and the Housing Act 2004.
Danny Zane, the firm's director, says: At check-outs we have found properties that are potential death traps with absent or faulty smoke alarms, no fire doors and blocked escape routes. Landlords face heavy fines if they ignore their responsibilities, so we urge all landlords and agents to check that their properties are compliant.
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Comments
It is a disgrace that this statistic is the official figure.
According to the Cowell report shared accommodation was stunningly safe.
This would tally with the fire brigades risk areas that class student areas (which have a high amount of shared accommodation) as low risk.