According to new research conducted by combined lettings inventory and property compliance specialists VeriSmart, smoke alarms are the top health and safety issue that landlords are failing to address.
The investigation looked into the most common hazards being missed within their rental properties during 60,000 property inspections in the private rented sector.
VeriSmart found that 40 per cent of all health and safety assessments flagged either a missing or non-functional smoke detector, whilst 26 per cent of assessments highlighted the danger of falling on stairs, and electrical issues accounted for 11 per cent of all hazards flagged during health and safety assessments.
There were also other issues highlighted including; a lack of working carbon monoxide detector (7 per cent), damp and mould (4 per cent) uncovered ponds or pools (2 per cent_ and threat of structural collapse or falling elements (2 per cent).
Jonathan Senior, founder of VeriSmart said: “While many landlords are providing up to scratch accommodation, it’s really quite worrying that we’re seeing so many fail to address some of the most serious hazards in the home.
‘The lack of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and the danger of falling on stairs ranking as high as they have is particularly worrying. These are classed as category one hazards and so there is no excuse to have them present in a rental property.”
In March this year, the Fitness for Human Habitation Act was introduced along with a series of additional changes in legislation which mean that landlords and agents are now at a higher risk of being sued by tenants for breach of contract by proving unfit properties.
