Do I need mains powered fire alarms?

[a.spearey]

Hi!

I am new to this, as I'm sure many others are due to the credit crunch so any advice is wecome!

I have a two bed ground floor flat that is ex-council with concrete ceilings that I am planning on renting out. The elecrician that came around to inspect my flat to give a quote for any work that needed doing before a certificate could be issued, said I would need mains supplied fire alarms. My question is basically, is that true? It seems a little excessive as battery powered ones seem fine and I already have them.

Thank you in anticipation!

[Poppy]

For your type of property, there are no statutory regulations stating that smoke detectors are mains powered. Battery powered smoke detectors are fine.

What is the electrical work that you suspect needs attention? Be aware of people telling you stuff to get you to unnecessarily spend your money on their goods and services.

Do you have permission from your freeholder and mortgagee to let this property?

For your own good, I strongly recommend that you read the LLZ forums and elsewhere to learn more about the residential letting industry.

[Ericthelobster]

I have a two bed ground floor flat that is ex-council with concrete ceilings that I am planning on renting out. The elecrician that came around to inspect my flat to give a quote for any work that needed doing before a certificate could be issued, said I would need mains supplied fire alarms. My question is basically, is that true? It seems a little excessive as battery powered ones seem fine and I already have them.Is this property to be renovated and rewired? If so, the rewiring would need to be carried out to current regulations, which does include mains-powered smoke alarms. If not, no alarms are required legally, mains-powered or otherwise.

[Mrs Jones]

The elecrician that came around to inspect my flat to give a quote for any work that needed doing before a certificate could be issued, said I would need mains supplied fire alarms.

Just to clarify - at the moment regarding electrics you don't need "a certificate to be issued" in the way you would need a gas safety certificate just because you are letting the property.

At the moment a certificate would be issued to cover any (new) work that you were having done.

I believe you could have the whole property checked and all the electrics tested by a suitably qualified electrician who would then issue a certificate - but that would be purely voluntary on your part - not a statutory requirement as yet. Perhaps someone else can confirm my understanding on this?

I believe you do now have to have any electrical APPLIANCES which are supplied by you checked.

[Clare2009]

I think Mrs Jones is right that there is no requirement to get a certificate in the same way as a gas safety certificate, however do check the terms of your insurance as it was a condition of ours to have a safety check done.

[Mrs Jones]

Thanks Clare for that tip re the insurance. I must check my policy!!

[MrAgent]

I think Mrs Jones is right that there is no requirement to get a certificate in the same way as a gas safety certificate, however do check the terms of your insurance as it was a condition of ours to have a safety check done.

Not in this case from the info provided but if it is a HMO (licensable or otherwise) an electrical certificate IS needed (management of HMO regs 2006).

[Mrs Jones]

I didn't think a 2-bed ex-council flat was likely to be a HMO but useful to know this. Thanks.

[theartfullodger]

Mains-powered not needed (and I therefore conclude the sparks either
a) Is a liar & not to be trusted with anything else he says or does... or
b) Is ignorant & not to be trusted with anything else he says or does.
)

Even in Scotland (Yup, I know this board is E&W) where mains-powered are needed - they are only needed for 2 stories or more...

However, if having electrical works done it might be worth getting mains-powered, interlinked if bunging in 2, to protect your own assets and the tenant...

Cheers!"

Lodger

[jeffrey]

Smoke alarms are not the same as fire alarms, I know, but are the rules not similar?
See http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=15771

[Ericthelobster]

Smoke alarms are not the same as fire alarms, I know, but are the rules not similar?Nope. I can't comment on HMO regulations, but the comments I made in post #3 definitely refer to smoke alarms - there's no general building or electrical regs which stipulate fire-alarms need installing.