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THE REGULATORY REFORM (FIRE SAFETY) ORDER 2005 => Q & A => Topic started by: Geoff on October 02, 2007, 11:08:11 AM
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I work for a Registered Social Landlord and we have quite a few general needs housing estates, etc. A question has arisen round the possible need to fit alternative fire warning systems, e.g. flashing light systems, for those with hearing difficulites, etc.
I'm obviously losing it or it is a as I can't seem to figure out whether we have a duty as the landlord to do this or not and whether if we do it is under the RRO or Housing Act!
Anyone got any ideas?
Geoff
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The Law has recently changed in Scotland with the recent imposition of more exacting requirements for Landlords in relation to the provision of smoke detectors for residential lets.
This was introduced under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006.
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I would not expect a landlord to supply anything like this in normal residential accomodation. We have a high risk community fire safety team who fit such things as "deaf alarms" free of charge in certain circumstances, purely to protect the resident, not to assist the landlord in any of his duties under any other act.
The place being a single private dwelling exempts it from the RRO, and while I am sure there are standards to be adhered to under the housing act I would not expect that it would cover anything over basic smoke detection. (if it includes any provision at all) Anyone living in a single private dwelling, rented or owned, would probably have access to a home fire safety check free of charge, and I would imagine other brigades will also have high risk teams that could deal with such specific things.
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What does "general needs" mean?
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Basically it is the Housing Association version of council housing!