Where a building contains two or more sets of domestic premises a fire risk assessment must now include an assessment of:
* Building’s structure
* External walls
* Any common parts
* Doors between the domestic premises and common parts.
Further Reading
The Fire Safety Act 2021 came into force on 16 May 2022 and amends the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 now applies where a building contains two or more domestic premises and applies to:
(a) the building’s structure and external walls and any common parts;
(b) all doors between the domestic premises and common parts
Reference to external walls now includes:
(a) doors or windows in those walls, and
(b) anything attached to the exterior of those walls (including balconies).
Where this has obvious application is for responsible persons (e.g., landlords or managing agents) of buildings containing two or more domestic premises risk assessing the building.
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 comes into force on 23rd January 2023.
The responsible person, in relation to a building which contains two or more sets of domestic premises and which contains common parts through which residents would need to evacuate in the case of an emergency, must display required information in a conspicuous part of the building and provide the required information to the residents of the building.
The required information is:
I. instructions relating to the evacuation strategy for the building;
II. instructions as regards how to report a fire to the fire and rescue authority;
III. any other instruction that tells residents what they must do when a fire has occurred.
I. fire doors should be kept shut when not in use;
II. residents or their guests should not tamper with the self-closing devices;
III. residents should report any faults or damages with doors immediately to the responsible person.
The responsible person must provide the required information:
(a) to a new resident of domestic premises within the building, as soon as reasonably practicable after that resident moves into the premises;
(b) to all residents of domestic premises within the building within each period of 12 months beginning with 23rd January 2023.
After any material changes to the fire safety instructions, the responsible person must display the fire safety instructions and provide a copy to residents.
For buildings over 11 metres and buildings over 18 metres or more than seven storeys (classed as high rise) the requirements of the regulations are different.
Further Reading
Fire Safety Act 2021
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 come into force on 1st June 2020 and apply to all new tenancies from 1st July 2020 and all existing tenancies from 1st April 2021.
Overview
Landlords must ensure that the standards for electrical installations in the eighteenth edition of the Wiring Regulations are met during any period when the residential premises are occupied under a tenancy.
First Inspection and Testing
For new tenancies (including renewals), the first inspection and test must be carried out before the tenancy commences. For existing tenancies, the first inspection and test must be carried out by 1st April 2021.
Inspection and Testing Intervals
Inspection and testing must be carried out at intervals of no more than 5 years or where the most recent inspection and test report requires inspection and testing to be at intervals of less than 5 years, at the intervals specified in that report.
Inspection and Test Reports
Landlords must:
• Obtain a report from the person conducting the inspection and test;
• Supply a copy of that report to each existing tenant of the premises within 28 days of the inspection and test;
• Supply a copy of that report to the local housing authority within 7 days of receiving a request in writing for it from that authority;
• Retain a copy of that report until the next inspection and test is due and supply a copy to the person carrying out the next inspection and test;
• Supply a copy of the most recent report to any new tenant before the tenant occupies the premises;
• Supply a copy of the most recent report to any prospective tenant (1) within 28 days of receiving a request in writing for it.
Remedial Work
Where an inspection and test report indicates that an installation does not meet or potentially does not meet the standards for electrical installations in the eighteenth edition of the Wiring Regulations and the report requires further investigative or remedial work, landlords must (2):
• Ensure that the investigative or remedial work is carried out within 28 days or the period specified in the report if less than 28 days, starting with the date of the inspection and testing.
• Obtain written confirmation from a qualified person that the further investigative or remedial work has been carried out and that the standards for electrical installations in the eighteenth edition of the Wiring Regulations are met or further investigative or remedial work is required.
• Supply that written confirmation, together with a copy of the report which required the further investigative or remedial work to each existing tenant of the residential premises within 28 days of completion of the further investigative or remedial work;
• Supply that written confirmation, together with a copy of the report which required the further investigative or remedial work to the local housing authority within 28 days of completion of the further investigative or remedial work.
• Where further investigative work is carried out is that further investigative or remedial work is required, the must repeat the steps above in respect of that further investigative or remedial work.
1. A prospective tenant is a person who requests information about the premises, makes a request to view the premises or makes an offer to rent those premises.
2. According to the UK government guide for landlords, further remedial work is not required for observations with Classification Code C3.
Further Reading
The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020
Guide for landlords: electrical safety standards in the private rented sector