RLA secures fire safety concession

The Residential Landlords Association (RLA) has revealed that it has succeeded in its campaign to get the government to reconsider how fire regulations will deal with shared houses.

Previously, the RLA had argued that a nuclear power station required just one fire regulation, while a shared house needed two.

However, the organisation - which represents the interests of landlords who together own more than 100,000 private rented properties - has succeeded in convincing the government to redress the situation as part of the new Housing Act.

Lee Dribben, chairman of the RLA, explained that the previous situation was causing confusion for landlords.

"Fire safety - one of the single most important issues in rented housing - was in danger of sliding into a cloud of confusion which could have threatened the lives of tenants," he said.

Previously both local and fire authorities had responsibility for different areas of a shared home, but the rules have now been simplified to give sole control to the former.

"Local authorities are better equipped to promote fire safety and carry out risk assessments and they have ample powers to deal with this issue," Mr Dribben pointed out.