Private landlords across Hampshire are being given the opportunity to apply for free smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in the wake of new laws that will aim to save lives.
The new rules state that all private landlords must install a smoke alarm on each floor as well as a carbon monoxide detector in rooms with a solid fuel appliance, which includes wood burners and open fires.
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service is encouraging all landlords to act now to ensure they are ready for new legislation which is aimed at saving dozens of lives a year. Failure to comply could result in penalties of up to £5,000.
To help landlords gear up for the new regulations, the Government has provided Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service with more than 13,000 smoke alarms and over a thousand carbon monoxide detectors, to give out to landlords that house vulnerable tenants.
Steve Foye, Head of Community Safety said “We are delighted that the Government has brought in these new laws which will improve the safety of families and stop dozens of people from losing their lives to fire each year.”
“While deaths and injuries from fires have reduced considerably in recent years, the majority of victims continue to be those who are most vulnerable, often living in private rented accommodation.”
“We would urge private landlords to visit our website where they can find information and details about whether they are eligible for a free appliance.”
Statistically people are four times more likely to die in a fire in the home if there is no working smoke alarm and over the next 10 years it is estimated that the new laws will result in 231 fewer deaths and 5,860 less injuries.
