Fire investigator calls for mandatory smoke alarms

A fire investigator is calling for a law to force all private landlords to fit at least two smoke detectors in each of the properties they rent out following the inquest into the deaths of two boys who were killed in a house fire three years ago.

The two boys died after they started a fire in a den they had made under the stairs of the home. The inquest into the deaths was held at Eastbourne Magistrates’ Court where it was revealed that there were no working smoke alarms in the property their mother rented. Fire investigator, Mark Hobbs worked on the tragic blaze and he told the inquest that in his opinion every privately rented home should have properly operated smoke alarms. However, there is currently no law that requires landlords to fit smoke detectors.

At the inquest Mr Hobbs asked coroner Alan Craze if he would look into the issue and make a recommendation to the Coalition Government to support a new law for landlords to fit smoke detectors in their properties. The great majority of landlords are keen to ensure their properties are covered by landlord insurance and view smoke alarms equally as important but a small number are not protecting the tenant as well as they protect their property.

Mr Craze said action on the issue was already being looked at and if passed into law, it would mean both private and socially-rented homes would be required to have a working, hard-wired, smoke alarm as part of the tenancy agreement.

Currently landlords must comply with a laws about gas safety and Kathleen Jones, from Edwin Jones letting agents, said “I think all our landlords have fitted smoke alarms in their properties. I can’t think of anyone who hasn’t but if it were the law then that would be better. Sometimes I think there is too much regulation and legislation but I think this would be a good idea. It would be a simple law and it would not be a huge expense for the landlord.”