Safety issues

This section looks at safety in private rented housing. It covers fire safety, gas and electricity supplies. It explains the protection you have if you are a private tenant.

Fire safety

Most tenants who are concerned about a lack of fire precautions or escape routes have few rights. The only way to deal with a problem over fire precautions is to negotiate with your landlord. However, if you live in a house in multiple occupation (HMO) this is different. A HMO is a house or flat that is occupied by more than one household. For example:

a house split into separate bedsits,
a house let as lodgings,
a shared house or flat,
a hostel,
a bed and breakfast hotel which is not just for holidays.

It is not always easy to work out whether you live in a HMO. The rules about HMOs can be very complicated. If you're not sure get advice.

If you live in a HMO there are laws about fire safety . If your landlord breaks the law s/he could be prosecuted by the environmental health department of your local council.

HMOs must have:

fire alarms, especially in the kitchen,
fire extinguishers on every floor,
fire blankets in every kitchen,
fire doors,
fire escapes and fire escape routes,
smoke or heat alarms.

These must be adequate for:

the number of people living in the property,
the size of the property.

They must also be well maintained.

Gas safety

All private landlords are responsible for ensuring household gas supply and appliances are safe. If the gas appliances in your home are unsafe you could be at risk of:

fiire,
explosion,
carbon monoxide poisoning.

Carbon monoxide gas is invisible and odourless. It is poisonous and can kill.

Your landlord doesn't have to install carbon monoxide detectors, but you can ask your landlord to provide them. It may be worthwhile fitting them yourself if your landlord does not provide these items.

Gas safety inspections

Gas Safe Register replaced the CORGI gas register in Northern Ireland on 1 April 2010.

Gas Safe Register oversees the register of gas engineers who are qualified to work with gas in Northern Ireland. Only gas engineers on the register can service and work safely and legally on gas installations and appliances.

Every rented house, bedsit or flat that has gas must have a valid gas safety record. A gas safety record is valid for 12 months and issued by an engineer on the Gas Safe Register who has inspected and checked gas safety compliance. Before issuing a gas safety record, the engineer checks:

the gas supply,
gas appliances,
gas flues,
ventilation.

If the gas engineer notices any problems, the landlord must fix these by employing a gas engineer on the Gas Safe Register. Landlords must keep the gas safety record for at least two years and keep proof of all gas-related works carried out. Ask for a copy of the gas safety record when you move in. The gas safety record must show a gas safety check for each gas appliance in your accommodation.

It is a criminal offence if a landlord does not give you a copy of a valid gas safety record. The Health and Safety Executive can prosecute your landlord. Your landlord could be fined or even imprisoned.

Tenant responsibilities

You must not use appliances that you know or suspect are unsafe. If there is a gas leak you may be able to prevent any further escapes of gas by turning off the gas supply. Report any gas leaks to the gas supplier immediately.

The gas emergency number is 0800 002 001. The gas supplier will disconnect the gas supply or appliance if it is unsafe.

Electrical safety

There are no laws that specifically cover electrical safety in private rented accommodation. Northern Ireland Electricity can disconnect the electrical supply if it believes that the electricity at your property is unsafe.

Any electrical equipment provided by your landlord should be safe. However, your landlord doesn't have to get a safety certificate. The environmental health department at your local council may be able to prosecute your landlord if s/he provides unsafe electrical equipment.

Furniture

The furniture in furnished accommodation must be fire resistant. This applies to all new furniture provided after 1 March 1993 even if your tenancy started before 1993. Contact the environmental health department of your local council if your landlord provides furniture that isn't fire resistant.

Minimising the risk

There are things that you can do to minimise risks to you in your home. These include:

report problems to your landlord immediately,
make sure that smoke alarms are fitted and in working order,
use carbon monoxide detectors,
plan what to do in case of fire and be aware of all escape routes,
make sure that exit routes are clear,
keep electrical and gas appliances in good condition and report any faults to your landlord,
ask your landlord to give you a copy of the gas safety certificate,
contact the gas supplier immediately if you suspect there is a gas leak.