Though living in a rental property does mean that you aren’t responsible for certain aspects of the property upkeep, there are things that you will still be accountable for, including taking into consideration proper fire safety. Whether you’re renting your first student house or you’re a longterm and seasoned renter, it’s always good to be reminded about proper fire prevention protocols. In this post we’ll be breaking down how you can practice fire safety in a rental home so and your fellow occupants can keep safe.
Regulations regarding fire safety in a rental home in Wales
Rented homes in Wales have many legislations put in place to assist with minimising the risk of fire in your home. New regulations have made it compulsory for rented homes to have a working, mains powered and interlinked smoke alarm. HMO (House of Multiple Occupancy) properties for example, go through rigorous checks before a HMO licence is granted, this includes making sure that there are fire doors, fire resistant paint and points of escape.
Here at Varcity Living, we carry out fire safety checks on our properties, completed by trained fire safety companies, and landlords can ask for fire risk assessments to be carried out if needed. We have also provided comprehensive fire risk advice at the end of your contract with helpful tips and advice. If you need a copy, make sure to get in touch with us by emailing lettings@varcityltd.com.
If you have a fire alarm:
- It is checked every 6 months by trained professionals, but you need to make sure you know where the panel is in your property.
- Check it regularly for any errors showing on the panel. If it is activated because of a false alarm or a fire, we need to make sure it is reset correctly and not just silenced.
- Contact the team here at Varcity if there are any issues or questions about the fire safety panel.
If you have a smoke alarm:
- It is checked and serviced annually by trained professionals.
- Test the smoke alarm every week to make sure it is still working. “Test it Tuesday”
- Watch the following video – How to test smoke alarms
- Record every time you test the smoke alarm in a log book, so you can keep track of when it was tested.
- Report any issues via PropertyFile, so that the Property Management team can assist or send an expert out to check.
What you can do to practice fire safety in a rental
Now its your turn! To help minimise the risks even further, you need to make sure that your fire system is working. When you first move into your new home you should make sure there are fire and carbon monoxide alarms in place. Though the property will have been checked prior to your contract beginning, human error means some things can be missed. If you notice that there is damage to fire doors or alarms in your new home you should let us know immediately. You should ensure that access to exits is kept clear at all times throughout your tenancy. Keep your door and window keys in accessible locations at all times so that you can quickly locate them in an emergency.
There’s a fire!
There are certain things you can do or try to avoid to minimise the risk of fire. These include:
- Never leave cooking unattended.
- Keep all electrical cords away from heat sources.
- Do not overload electrical outlets.
- Store any flammable liquids properly.
- Dispose of cigarettes and matches in a safe manner. We always recommend dousing these in water before binning.
- Continue to keep all exits and hallways free of clutter.
- Equipment such as irons and heated styling tools should be unplugged and placed on non-flammable surfaces after use.
- Ensure all fire doors remain closed at all times. They should never be propped open. Fire will spread quickly when it has no obstruction. Fire doors both work to contain the fire within sealed off areas, as well as the harmful gases and smoke that could otherwise easily reach the rest of the property. They are designed specifically to withstand fire and afford fire fighters a time barrier of anything between 30-60 minutes, meaning the fire can be contained, meaning there is less risk to the rest of the property and its occupants whilst ensuring there will be enough time for everyone to vacate the premises.
Despite your best efforts the worst has happened and you can see flames. There will be both fire blankets and fire extinguishers in the property but panic, fear or the scale of the blaze may make these interventions impossible. Your next step then is to follow the advice given to you at the start of your occupation of the property. The first step of this will usually be to call the fire department. If you live in a block of accommodation there may be a ‘stay put’ policy, provided the fire is not affecting your room(s). If not then you should proceed to your assembly point and wait there until the issue has been resolved. Do not attempt to remove belongings or go back into the building once you have left, as both these things could delay other people leaving. As you move through areas with fire doors you should close these behind you.
Communication is key
We encourage all occupants of Varcity Living properties to approach us with concerns or issues they may have and this most definitely applies in the case of proper fire prevention. If you notice any issues with fire safety equipment, with obstructions to fire doors, escape routes and exits, or if you spot issues with fire and smoke alarms or wiring in the property we urge you to inform us immediately.
To get in touch with us about issues such as these or about the information contained in this article please email us at lettings@varcityltd.com or give us a ring on 01248 719254.
