12th
Sep 2013
Worrying new research in West Yorkshire uncovers that some landlords in the region are putting tenants and their families at severe risk from carbon monoxide poisoning and fire.
The West Yorkshire CFOA (Chief Fire Officers Association) has launched a new home safety scheme, Blue Watch, and it revealed some shocking statistics from the research that was carried out amongst renters and landlords within the region.
- 6 % of tenants across Yorkshire and Humberside (approximately 99,000) experienced gas leaks and even fires in their homes and the research said that nearly a third of landlords, reportedly, were unconcerned about ensuring their tenants safety.
The report states that:
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25% had contacted their landlords over fears of the safety of the electrical or gas appliances in their homes and that 19% of tenants were unhappy with the way their landlords had treated their concerns.
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Despite being a legal requirement for landlords to provide a gas safety certificate, 41% of tenants had not received one for their home.
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29% of tenants did say that their landlords had fitted a CO alarm and only 10% of tenants did not have a smoke detector.
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72% of landlords feel that they could not make their property any safer and yet 31% of tenants believed that their landlord could do more.
Ian Bitcon, area manager for fire safety at West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “In the last two years there have been over 2,300 fires in houses across West Yorkshire, which could have been avoided. “We are committed to driving down this number by offering advice and helping make homes safer. “We hope Blue Watch will help prevent accidents and deaths in West Yorkshire and ensure landlords prioritise their tenants’ safety.”
In Huddersfield Feb 2004 Dominic Rodgers died from carbon monoxide poisoning that was emitted from a neighbour’s boiler that escaped into his bedroom ever since then his mother, Stacey Rodgers, has ceaselessly campaigned to highlight the dangers of carbon monoxide.
In 2012 a Wakefield landlord repeatedly ignored warnings to have the gas appliances in his rented property to be properly checked and subsequently was prosecuted which culminated in a fine of £450 and ordered to pay £1,000 towards the costs.
Blue Watch provides landlords, letting agents and landlords with support, advice and products to make properties safer. Last year a landlord from Wakefield was prosecuted after ignoring repeated warnings to have gas appliances in his rented property checked.
Blue Watch offers a two-tier service for landlords and letting agents.
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It starts with a self-declaration checklist and the website recommends how safety measures and products can be installed, maintained and tested around the property.
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Step two allows people to book a visit by a Fire and Rescue Service trading company or trusted partner to have the property Blue Watch validated.
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Self-declarations cost £25 and the validation service costs £65 which last for 12 months.
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