Battery-powered smoke alarms, which are accepted as part of a landlord’s legal obligations to install smoke detectors in their properties, are typically cheaper than mains powered alarms but are more likely to fail.
The data showed that firefighters attended more than 7,500 fires in homes with battery-powered alarms last year and found that 38 per cent failed to alert residents of the danger.
Other data showed:
- Incorrect positioning caused almost half (45 per cent) of the failures, while missing or faulty batteries caused 20 per cent.
- Of 29,586 property fires attended in England between 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2019, 22,475 homes were fitted with a smoke alarm.
- Battery-powered smoke alarms were found in 7,692 of the homes - but, of these, 2,899 (38 per cent) failed to sound.
- Mains-powered smoke alarms were reported to fail in 21 per cent of fires.
Helping ARLA Propertymark members comply
ARLA Propertymark members can take advantage of a range of benefits by logging into the ARLA Propertymark website.
Members can download resources which include:
Fact sheet: Landlords’ Legal Responsibilities for Gas Safety (England)
Landlords are legally responsible for the gas safety of their properties. The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 outlines what landlords must do to ensure gas appliances, fittings and flues are safe.
Fact sheet: Gas Regulations Danger Do Not Use Notices
Gas Safe registered engineers have a responsibility to advise landlords when they find dangerous gas installations in a property.
Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 — Fitness for Human Habitation
We have responded to the Welsh Government’s consultation on fitness for human habitation pressing for clearer guidelines for landlords as they prepare for responsibilities to ensure a dwelling is fit for human habitation under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016.