Tenant's rights

Fire safety in rented homes

If you live in a rented home, then your landlord has some responsibility for fire safety. You should expect that your landlord will:

• Provide smoke alarms on each level of the property and test them before you move in. This applies to new tenancies starting after 1 October 2015.
• Landlords must also provide a carbon monoxide alarm in any room which contains a solid fuel burning appliance. Again this applies to new tenancies beginning after 1 October 2015.
• Ensure that any flat front doors, or doors onto shared corridors will resist a fire for a period of time. These doors must be free to self-close and not wedged or held open.
• Check that any shared corridors or stairs which could be used for escape from fire are kept clear and free to use.
• Make clear to tenants what the evacuation plan of the building is.

Living in rented homes

If you live in rented property, then you also have some personal responsibility to keep yourself safe from fire. You should:

• Check that your landlord has carried out their duties listed above.
• Consider a Safe and Well visit. 
• Carry out a DIY Safe and Well Check.
• Know your Escape Plan. Your landlord should provide this information to you.
• Be fire safety aware – there are lots of useful advice in our Fire Prevention section.
• If you are living in a flat don’t store things outside. Corridors should be kept clear. Even using balconies as extra storage space can allow a fire to spread rapidly.