Lib Dem ministers in government are making sure that all private sector landlords have to install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
Responding to the government announcement that regulations requiring this will be tabled before this Parliament ends, Cllr Jeremy Hilton, Lib Dem Spokesperson on Fire Services and Chair of the LGA’s Fire Services Management Committee, said:
“We were pleased that Lib Dems in Government listened to the call for a mandatory requirement that private sector landlords install smoke alarms. The LGA has also vigorously campaigned for this measure, which will save hundreds of lives every year.
“While the majority of private sector landlords are reputable and voluntarily install alarms, there are a small minority who do not, needlessly putting lives at risk. They have a duty of care to their tenants and this important measure will ensure this is met. A working smoke alarm can make the difference between life and death and should be seen as every bit as essential as a lock on the front door.”
Notes:
The call for mandatory smoke alarms has formed a central part of the LGA’s key report ‘The Fire and Rescue Service: Making our Nation Safer’. This document sets out a blueprint for the next government, with a series of proposals for how fire and rescue services can improve fire safety and save the public purse money.