While we all deal with the implications of the coronavirus pandemic, your local Fire and Rescue Service will continue to support the owners and managers of buildings and businesses.

As a building owner / manager you must be aware of your legal responsibilities under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO), and ensure that these continue to be met.

Responsible persons must carry out a Fire Risk Assessment and review on a regular basis.

Regularly and routinely inspect fire alarms, emergency lighting, and fire precautions in line with current standards. We can arrange weekly and monthly checks of your property if required.

Remember the test required are weekly fire alarm checks, and monthly Emergency lights extinguishers, detection systems and fire doors.

Whilst shutting down your establishment or still working think of the following.

Escape routes are to be kept clear.

Do not prop open fire doors to minimise contact with door handles. Ensure that public health advice on hand washing is followed.

Protect your premises from any risks of arson. Including monitoring waste areas outside, move bins into rear of site in a secure area.

Ensure non critical power supplies are switched off do not turn of your alarm or detection.

Check homes where studenst have moved out checking all electrical items kettle, toasters extension leads etc are unplugged.

Provide your staff with information, fire safety instruction and training.

You may wish to review your risk assessment if staffing levels change following the pandemic.

Carry out a review of your assessment of any essential maintenance during this time.

The Fire Service is not carrying out routine fire safety visits during this period; however, please be aware that enforcement and prohibition work will continue.

Further guidance on carrying out a risk assessment is available from PSC Fire Safety Ltd

If you have a general fire safety enquiry regarding commercial property, please email paul@pscfiresafety.com or phone 01455 557877 or 07967468639.

Our teams are available 24/7

Fire Engineers carry out a mission-critical jobs to not only fix but maintain fire systems and products such as extinguishers, fire alarms etc.

 We have real first-hand knowledge and evidence of the dangerous and potentially deadly effects that a lack of maintenance on fire systems can lead to; I don’t have to mention the implications if you were to have a major fire incident as a result of the fire safety equipment not working correctly.

Managers or landlords can use this sign to comply with regulation 14.

Regulation 14 (general Safety) Is an important regulation as it is often ignored. However it is the law that a notice is displayed (and remains displayed) so as to be readily visible to the residents which contains the name, address and telephone number of each person who manages the house.

Photoluminescent Safety Sign 20mm by 15mm only £10.00 plus post and packing.

To order a sign please email paul@pscfiresafety.com or call 01455557877

AM I A HMO? (House in Multiple Occupation)

If you have 3 and/or 4 people (that are NOT related to each other) and they share the same amenities (i.e. Kitchen) then you ARE A HMO.

So for example, if you own or a manage a normal terraced house let out to 3 or 4 unrelated students/professionals who share a kitchen it is a HMO, irrespective of the number of floors in the building and irrespective if they are on a single or joint tenancy agreement.

THE LEGAL DEFINITION

Under the Housing Act 2004, if you let a property which is one of the following types, it is a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO):

An entire house or flat which is let to 3 or more tenants who form 2 or more households and who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR LANDLORDS & MANAGING AGENTS?

As a HMO of this type you must adhere to HMO safety standards and fire safety management requirements. Management standards for HMO’s include;

Adhere to the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006/2007. – Enforced by Local Council

Adhere to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 – Enforced by your local Fire & Rescue Service. And your local Council now requires all licensable HMO’s in some areas to have a Fire Risk Assessment. This needs to be performed by a competent person, and “competency” may have to be proven to an Enforcement Officer, or in Court.

A Fire Risk Assessment is a legal document that may have to be presented to the Council, Enforcement Officer or to the courts.  They will be looking for proof of your ‘competency’ to carry out the Fire Risk Assessment, in the first place.  If you have downloaded something of the internet, and almost “self- certified” your own property, then you can be prosecuted.  If you cannot provide evidence that you have professional silks or qualifications necessary to carry out assessments that relate to endangering lives within your property this will mean, you will have no argument in court.

In terms of Law a competent person is to be regarded as someone with sufficient training, experience and knowledge of fire safety.  This is enforced by the Fire and Rescue Authority.

We specialise in Fire Risk Assessments for HMO’s.  Our team members have over 25 years of experience in Fire Risk Assessments.

WANT TO TALK TO US?

With the current speed of regulation & new HMO legalisation, our professional team will provide you with clear guidance together with practical and economical solutions, for your HMO property so get in touch with us today for a FREE no obligation chat.

Call the office 01455 557877 or email paul@pscfiresafety.com

We also supply equipment and service alarms etc so a one stop shop at competitive rates. 

There is a sign required in each property for regulation 14 we supply this sign.

Hope this is of use.

Chat soon 

Paul Coughlan Mifsm

PSC Fire Safety Ltd