Landlord & Buy-to-Let Magazine | Page 6

For latest show news visit www.landlordshow.info industry news ... Continued according to the number of privately rented properties in their area. Fire Minister Penny Mordaunt praised the work of the Chief Fire Officers Association in helping bring forward the new rules to require landlords to install smoke alarms in their properties. Fire Minister Penny Mordaunt said: “Landlords have a duty of care to their tenants – and with people at least four times more likely to die in a fire in a home where there is no working smoke alarm, this is an important measure to ensure this is met. “From October, anyone renting out their home will need to ensure there is a smoke alarm on every floor of the home at the start of a tenancy. “Today’s £3 million boost will ensure England’s 46 fire and rescue authorities can distribute smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to landlords in their communities, making it easier for them to do the right thing and abide by this new rule. Home Safety Lead at the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) Mark Cashin said: “The announcement of the change in legislation and the funding will greatly help to improve the safety of families and prevent dozens of people from losing their lives to fire each year. “While the cost to landlords is small, it will also go a long way to increasing tenants’ confidence of their landlords and reducing the devastating impact and losses house fires can cause. “A ten-year sealed alarm costing around £15, which is a small price to pay for protection of tenants and property and possessions.” “We know that most landlords will welcome this step, which will help protect their tenants and save lives,” said Peter Dartford, CFOA President. “CFOA will be working with the Government to ensure that this new legislation is implemented as quickly as possible.” Mark Cashin, CFOA’s Home Safety Lead, said: “This change would 4 Landlord & Buy-to-Let Issue 58 • April 2015 improve the safety of families and stop dozens of people from losing their lives to fire each year. The cost to landlords is small, with a ten-year sealed alarm costing around £15. The move is widely supported by the public and associations representing landlords and tenants.” Fire Minister Penny Mordaunt said: “Fire and rescue authorities will be very pleased that tenants in the private sector are to be given the protection from fire that they need. We will be workin