More than a quarter of tenants do not have a smoke alarm installed on each storey of their home, despite landlords legally obliged to do so, a major study has revealed.
The research, published by property maintenance firm Plentific, shows that landlords are “falling short” when it comes to their legal obligations.
According to the paper, just 27 per cent of tenants living in privately rented accommodation in the UK do not have a smoke alarm installed on each storey of their property, while almost half (46 per cent) “do not believe” their gas appliances have been checked in the last 12 months.
In addition, over four in 10 (44 per cent) renters do not have a Gas Safety Certificate, while 51 per cent do not have a carbon monoxide alarm.
A further two thirds (66 per cent) of tenants say they have not seen their home’s Electrical Performance Certificate (EPC).
Commenting on the findings, Cem Savas, CEO and Co-Founder at Plentific, said: “Resident safety should be of paramount importance to landlords and failing to comply with legal requirements could put both residents and landlords at risk.
“There are a number of complexities involved and landlords must ensure they understand the rules and different requirements of legislation to ensure they do not fall foul of the law.”
What are the laws on smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in the UK?
Private sector landlords are required to install at least one smoke alarm on each storey of their property, which should be safety checked at the start of any new tenancy.
Landlords are also required to install a carbon monoxide detector in any room containing a “solid fuel-burning appliance” – such as an open fire or wood-burning stove.
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