16 July 2008
Two recent incidents of fires in houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) occupied by tenants have highlighted the importance of maintaining high standards of safety within rented properties.
East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service were called to fires at Elms Avenue and Bedford Grove, and appliances from Eastbourne and Pevensey attended. The fires occurred in the bedroom of a flat on the third floor in one property and in a kitchen of a bed-sit on the ground floor of the other. Both three storey properties are licensed by Eastbourne Borough Council under the Housing Act 2004.
Both landlords had benefited from advice and guidance from the Council’s Private Housing Team and already had in place fully automatic fire alarms, automatic fire detection systems, fire resisting doors and partitions, emergency lighting and good management practices.
Eastbourne Borough Council’s requirements for fire precautions in HMOs were in place and did their job. The combined use of detection (AFD) and protection (fire doors) ensured relatively small fires did not spread throughout both properties causing further damage and resulting in casualties.
Cllr Mrs Bannister, the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Health and Community Services said “I am pleased that the Council’s work with landlords helped to save lives and prevented extensive damage to these two properties. The Council is committed to ensuring that privately rented homes are brought up to and maintained at the required standard”.
The Private Housing Team is actively looking for other properties in the area that require licensing and will ensure that the proper standards of amenity, safety and management are in place. Landlords and managers of such properties should be aware that they may be subject to prosecution if they wilfully do not comply with these standards. However, as always, we are keen to work with landlords who request advice.
Further information can be found on Eastbourne Borough Council's Private Housing Webpage and from Phil Williams, Senior Environmental Health Practitioner on telephone number 01323 415931.
