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FIRE SERVICE AND GENERAL FIRE SAFETY TOPICS => Fire Safety => Topic started by: CJ on September 19, 2008, 08:55:16 AM

Title: Smoking in Bedrooms
Post by: CJ on September 19, 2008, 08:55:16 AM

Hi we have a number of residential areas within my work place where smoking is allowed in peoples bedrooms.

when i questioned this the responce was as the people pay to live in there they are classed as their own homes so smoking is allowed, they are not allowed to smoke anywhere else in the building due to the smoking laws.

These bedrooms do not have AFD but the corridor areas have.

Should i not be insisting that smoking in bedrooms is not allowed and is included in thier tenancy agreement or do they have a right to smoke in there rooms?

Title: Smoking in Bedrooms
Post by: kurnal on September 19, 2008, 09:04:10 AM

Bit puzzled by the set up. If these are self contained flats people have the right to smoke in their own home. If they share facililities then smoking will be illegal in any cvommon parts.
What sort of workplace would this be? A sheltered housing scheme or stately home, residential college, or similar? Normally there is a requirement for complete fire separation between a place of work- ie office, shop, factory and residential accommodation.

Title: Smoking in Bedrooms
Post by: CivvyFSO on September 19, 2008, 09:09:44 AM

Legally the law allows it in their own dwelling. If it is in a tenancy agreement that no smoking is allowed then people can make the decision of whether to rent there or go somewhere else. Just the same as stipulating no cats. Many landlords have 'no smoking' as part of the agreement now, mainly due to the cost of cleaning the place between occupiers.

I am assuming that due to the presence of a tenancy agreement that this is not resi care. Certain allowances have been made for resi-care, i.e. A specific smoking room is allowed, but this is due to change eventually.

Title: Smoking in Bedrooms
Post by: CJ on September 19, 2008, 09:35:41 AM

it is a residential block for staff at a hospital who pay to hire the room some are single bed flats some are three bedroom flats.

Title: Smoking in Bedrooms
Post by: SidM on September 19, 2008, 09:41:09 AM

If the accommodation is part of their work, then it is not their private home, i.e. I don't think they have a legal estate in the land.

Title: Smoking in Bedrooms
Post by: CivvyFSO on September 19, 2008, 01:32:39 PM

Even then providing they do not have to share the accommodation then they are legally allowed to smoke.