University is a fun and challenging time for many young adults, with so much on their plates and their whole futures ahead of them. While staying in student accommodation throughout their studies, students need to have confidence that their surroundings are safe. Continue reading our guide on student accommodation fire safety to learn how property owners and students can stay fire safe.
Landlord’s responsibilities
It is, ultimately, the landlord’s responsibility to ensure that the accommodation that students are living in is safe from the risk of fire. The landlord could either employ a property management agency or even the university itself, but certain measures have to be put in place before any occupants are allowed to live in the accommodation.
Firstly, a landlord should conduct a fire risk assessment of the property to ascertain if there are any fire hazards that could cause harm, identifying the measures in place, and estimating the level of risk for existing hazards. Once the fire risk assessment is completed, any hazards must be removed and safety procedures that were identified as being below an acceptable level must be improved.
What else should a landlord ensure they do with a property before students live there? Here is a list of some responsibilities:
- Install fire alarms. There should be at least one on every floor of the building.
- Have all electrical appliances, such as TVs, microwaves, and fridges, PAT tested.
- Have certified fire doors fitted where required.
- All parties should be given an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR).
- Carry out repairs within 28 days of being discovered and provide local authorities and tenants with a detailed report of completed repairs.
- Complete a fire safety plan so tenants are aware of what they must do in the event of a fire.
- Make sure all furniture and furnishings meet fire resistance regulations.
What can residents do to ensure HMO fire safety?
Houses of multiple occupancy (HMO) will have several people living on the premises. It is, of course, the landlord’s responsibility to ensure all safety checks are carried out and that the property is safe for occupants. However, when living there, all residents must abide by safety regulations to lower the risk of fire. What can students and residents do to protect themselves and prevent a fire?
- Keep rubbish bags, both inside and outside the property, to a minimum. Large amounts of waste materials can act as an evacuation hazard and a potential ignition source.
- Never leave cooking unattended, especially if using oil.
- Learn some basic fire fighting tools and tips, like knowing not to put water on an oil fire.
- Don’t overload plug sockets. This is a huge fire risk even with improvements in modern electrical equipment like surge protectors.
- Keep hot portable heaters away from flammable materials, such as curtains and soft furnishings.
- Don’t ignore a beeping smoke alarm. It means that the batteries are low and need replacing immediately.
If residents of a property can live by these rules regarding student accommodation fire safety, then they will reduce the risks.
Property inspections
If you are a landlord and are concerned about the current conditions of your property, it might be worth conducting a property inspection. At NW Fire Solutions, we can undertake this inspection for you to ascertain the current condition of the property, and ensure your HMO fire safety standards are up to scratch.
One of our dedicated fire safety consultants will visit the property on your behalf, saving your time and resources. We cover all the required fire safety checks that have to be carried out regularly, and much more.
Our property inspection service also looks out for anything else that would normally be checked as part of a typical property inspection, giving you the peace of mind that your tenants are safe.
Alongside a property inspection, we can also provide a HMO fire risk assessment. We can ensure that all fire escape routes, smoke detectors, fire alarms and other fire safety measures are up to scratch and approve your building for safe occupancy.
Contact NW Fire Solutions today on 0151 665 0124 or email us at info@nwfiresolutions.co.uk to speak to us about the services we can provide.