Frighteningly, in as little as 3 minutes a person can die of smoke inhalation.   Landlords please be aware of your responsibilities in relation to fire safety and to ensure that your properties are fully compliant with the fire safety standards and regulations applicable to rental properties.

Information on the requirements for fire safety can be found in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 

Specifically landlords must ensure:

• There is a suitable self-contained fire detection and alarm system in each house.
• There is a suitably located fire blanket.
• That each self-contained house in a multi-unit building shall contain a suitable fire detection and alarm system and an emergency evacuation plan. A multi unit building is a building that contains two or more houses that share common access.
• That there is a suitable fire detection and alarm system provided in common areas within a multi-unit building.
• Emergency lighting is provided in all common areas within a multi-unit building.
• Fire detection and alarm systems and emergency lighting systems required shall be maintained in accordance with current standards (i.e. standards produced by the National Standards Authority of Ireland for Fire Detection and Fire Alarm Systems in Buildings and for Emergency Lighting)

We suggest that you remind your tenants:

• Not to smoke when tired.
• Not to leave burning candles unattended.
• Not to leave matches and lighters where children can get them.
• Not to leave chip pans, frying pans, etc unattended.
• Not to stand too close to fires, heaters, etc.
• Not to use faulty electrical appliances.
• Not to overload sockets.
• Not to borrow/remove batteries from the Smoke Alarm
• Use a fireguard with open fires.
• Use proper holders when burning candles.
• Report any faulty electrical appliances to the landlord immediately for repair or replacement.
• Close all doors at night time.

When you carry out inspections on your rental property, please do a fire safety check and look for obvious dangers.

 

IPOA – supporting Landlords for over 26 years.

If you need help please contact us on 01-8276000