Rental Properties: Smoke Alarms
Lord Hoyle
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that all rented properties are fitted with smoke alarms.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con)
My Lords, we strongly encourage landlords to install smoke alarms as part of their responsibility to offer a safe and decent home to all tenants. We are currently considering, as part of a review of conditions in the rented sector, whether smoke alarms should be made compulsory. The review will conclude in the summer.
Lord Hoyle (Lab)
I thank the Minister for that reply. I am sure that, like me, she welcomes the fact that a large number of properties are fitted with smoke alarms, although that is not the case with older properties built before 1919. On the rented property side, she says that the Government are encouraging landlords to fit these alarms. What response are they getting and are they prepared to exercise the powers they could take under the Energy Act 2013 which would compel landlords to fit smoke alarms?
Baroness Stowell of Beeston
My Lords, the public are safer now than previously, given that the installation of smoke alarms in properties has increased hugely since 1988, when only 8% of homes had a smoke alarm. That figure now stands at 88% of all homes. All that said, this Government listened to the debates in your Lordships’ House and, in November last year, I announced at this Dispatch Box that our comprehensive review of safety in the rented sector would be extended to include consideration of whether to make smoke alarms mandatory. I introduced an order-making power to make them mandatory if our comprehensive review leads us to that decision, so we are conscious of this important matter.
Baroness Tonge (Ind LD)
My Lords, the Minister will be aware that many fires in rented and other properties are caused by faulty electrical wiring and faulty electrical appliances. Will she therefore ensure that, when the review is completed, landlords will be required to have an electrical safety check every five years?
Baroness Stowell of Beeston
As my noble friend acknowledges, the review includes electrical safety checks. As I said, it is comprehensive. We will reach a conclusion shortly.
Lord Harrison (Lab)
What conversations have the Government had with insurance companies, which are very much minded to reduce premiums given the extra safety and protection afforded to property by the installation of smoke alarms?
Baroness Stowell of Beeston
The review is wide-ranging. We have consulted a range of stakeholders in this matter. That will clearly include the insurance sector.
Lord Forsyth of Drumlean (Con)
My Lords, will my noble friend accept my congratulations on the way the Government have striven to increase the supply of safe, quality rented accommodation? Does she agree that one of the ways in which we could prevent further progress would be to introduce a stupid policy such as rent control?
Baroness Stowell of Beeston
My noble friend tempts me off the topic of the Question. However, I agree with what he says on that matter.
Lord McKenzie of Luton (Lab)
Does the noble Baroness agree that it is unbecoming for a Minister to encourage misrepresentation of our proposals? We are arguing not for old-style rent controls for the private rented sector but for more stability and security, with three-year tenancies being the norm, and with initial rents being set on a market-value basis for the full three-year tenancy but with an upper ceiling on any increases. Given that we now have 9 million people in the private rented sector, does the Minister agree that Generation Rent would welcome the stability that our proposals would bring?
Baroness Stowell of Beeston
The Question is about smoke alarms. It is worth noting that the noble Lord did not acknowledge that this Government listened to the debates in this House and are looking into whether smoke alarms should be made mandatory, which was something that his party did not do when it was in government.
The Earl of Listowel (CB)
Will the review look at how many lives might be saved by introducing this new regulation? Will it look in particular at how many children’s lives might be saved? Are there any indicative figures of the potential benefit?
Baroness Stowell of Beeston
Accidental death by fire has reduced dramatically over the years, partly because of the introduction of smoke alarms but also because of a range of other measures, regulations and activity in this area. As I say, the review is comprehensive and we are certainly looking at how such a change would affect all those who live in the rented sector.
Baroness Walmsley (LD)
My Lords, will the Government use whatever opportunities they can to remind the public that wired-in smoke alarms are very much safer than those operated by batteries? A smoke alarm with a flat battery is about as much use as a chocolate teapot.
Baroness Stowell of Beeston
My noble friend makes an important point because it is not just about installing these alarms; it is about making sure that they are working effectively. One of the things that the Government do is support the “Fire Kills” campaign. We do a lot of activity to ensure that people check that their alarms are working on, at the very least, the weekends when we change the clocks.
Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall (Lab)
My Lords, does the noble Baroness have any information about the incidence of death from carbon monoxide poisoning? Do the Government have any plans to consider the introduction of carbon monoxide monitors, in the same way as they are now looking at smoke alarms?
Baroness Stowell of Beeston
I did not say so because I wanted to focus on smoke alarms, but all that I said in response to the Question from the noble Lord, Lord Hoyle, extends to carbon monoxide alarms. This review is looking into carbon monoxide alarms along with smoke alarms.