How Landlords Can Improve Fire Safety in Rental Flats

Fire safety in flats is about layers of protection that work together: preventing fires from starting, stopping them from spreading and making sure people can escape quickly. Here is a practical guide for landlords, with clear actions you can take now. The focus is on legal duties in England specifically, but the principles are useful across the UK. Always check local rules and building specific requirements when you look to improve fire safety in rental flats.

1) Know your legal duties

• Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms: In England, you must have a smoke alarm on every storey used as living accommodation and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance (for example a gas boiler or log burner). Test on the first day of the tenancy and repair or replace once notified by the tenant.

• Common parts and fire risk assessment: In blocks of flats, the “responsible person” (often the freeholder or managing agent) must carry out and keep under review a fire risk assessment (FRA) for the common areas under the Fire Safety Order. If you are the responsible person, make sure the FRA is up to date and its actions are completed.

• HMOs: Extra measures usually apply for houses in multiple occupation (HMO), depending on the council area. This can include fire doors with self-closers, emergency lighting and a higher-grade alarm system.

• Furniture and furnishings: Upholstered items you provide must meet fire resistance requirements. Keep labels and purchase records.

• Electrical and gas safety: Keep your five-yearly EICR up to date, carry out annual gas safety checks and act promptly on any remedial items.

2) Fit the right alarms in the right places

• Type and interlinking: Long-life sealed battery alarms or hard-wired alarms reduce the chance someone will remove the batteries or they will run dead. Interlinked alarms (wired or radio) mean all units sound together, giving earlier warning.

• Placement: Smoke alarms in circulation spaces and living areas. Use a heat alarm in the kitchen to prevent false alarms from cooking steam.

• Maintenance: Test at check-in, then advise tenants to test monthly and check during inspections. Record tests and replacements.

3) Protect escape routes and compartmentation

Flats are designed to contain fire within the unit of origin for a period, while common corridors and stairwells must remain clear and protected.

• Flat entrance doors: Ensure they are fire-resisting (typically FD30S), self-closing, close snugly and have intact intumescent strips and cold smoke seals. Never wedge them open.

• Internal doors in HMOs: Fit self-closers and smoke seals where required by your licence or FRA.

• Penetrations: Seal gaps around pipes and cables that pass through walls and ceilings with appropriate fire-stopping products.

• Common areas: Keep corridors and stairs free of storage, furniture and bikes. Provide and maintain clear signage where required.

4) Reduce kitchen and appliance risks

Kitchens are the most frequent source of fires in homes.

• Layout and equipment: Provide a heat alarm, a fire blanket mounted near the exit (not above the hob) and good task lighting. Avoid loose floor coverings that can trip someone carrying a hot pan.

• Cleaning and upkeep: Grease in ovens and extractors is fuel. Build extractor filter cleaning into your inspection routine and give tenants simple guidance on oven cleaning.

• White goods: Register appliances for safety recalls. Position tumble dryers with adequate ventilation and remind tenants to clear lint after every use.

5) Information and engagement with tenants

Most incidents are prevented by informed choices.

• Fire action plan: Provide a simple one-page plan in every flat pack: emergency numbers, building strategy (stay put or evacuate), assembly point, how to test alarms and where the main shut-off points are.

• House rules: Write clear clauses on candles, smoking, heaters, balcony use and battery charging. Explain the “why”, not just the “no”.

• Language and accessibility: Use plain English. Provide translated or easy-read versions where needed.

6) Inspection and servicing rhythm

Create a simple calendar and stick to it.

• At every inspection: Test alarms, look for damaged doors or missing seals, check extractor cleanliness, look for scorch marks on sockets and signs of condensation or mould that might indicate poor ventilation.

• Six-monthly: Service any communal fire alarm system.

• Annually: Review the FRA for common areas, service dry risers and smoke control where present and refresh tenant guidance.

  
  

7) Keep records

Good paperwork protects both you and your tenants.

• Maintain a fire safety logbook with alarm tests, servicing, FRA actions, door checks, training and tenant communications.

• Store certificates (gas, EICR, alarm servicing, emergency lighting) and keep a simple action tracker so nothing slips.

  
  

Improve Fire Safety: Outsource Property Management

Our property management service can take the hassle of carrying out inspections from your hands, an important part of how landlords can improve fire safety in rental flats. These necessary, but time consuming, tasks form part of our packages of solutions that let you get on with building your business. Call us today on 0208 5757630 to find out how we can help you with your property management obligations.