Guide to Fire Regulations

Keeping your property above board and legally certified is the sign of a landlord approaching the buy to let business in the right way. Furthermore, ensuring that you comply with fire regulations is a legal requirement. This ibuytolet guide details the fire regulations that must be met when letting residential property in the UK. If you are letting your property as furnished, reading this guide is essential. 

The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire)(Safety) Regulations 1988 (amended 1989 & 1993)

This act set out new levels of fire resistance for furniture and furnishings. The act also draws attention to landlords, agents and those involved in the ‘letting of accommodation.’ When this type of object is included with a buy to let property, the landlord is sometimes deemed to be ‘supplying in the course of business.’ When providing a buy to let dwelling with furniture, the following provisions are included:

-         Upholstered items should have fire-resistant filling

-         Upholstered items must pass a match resistance test

-         Cover fabric and filling material must have passed cigarette resistance test

These regulations apply to a variety of furnishings, although bedding and antique furniture are not covered. Non-compliant items should be removed from the dwelling. All replacement furniture should comply with regulations.

Proving your commitment

The terms and conditions within your agreement should include a clause whereby you as landlord state that all furnishings comply with the new regulations. Some landlords may be excluded from ‘supplying in the course of business’, due to short-term lets or one-off letting, it is necessary to investigate this further should you have any questions. As always, due diligence is the best course of action. 

Possible complications

Landlords and agents who do not comply with the Fire Safety Regulations could face six-months imprisonment and a fine of £5,000. Proactive enforcement is extremely unlikely, and an investigation will only usually occur following complaints or a fire. These regulations revoke all previous regulations.

New furniture should also carry permanent and non-detachable labels indicating their resistance to fire.

Further information

Further information about fire regulations:

-         Local Trading Standards Officer

-         HMSO:   Copy of 1988 Regulations: S.I. 1988 No. 1324

-         Copy of 1989 Amendment Regulations: S.I. 1989 No. 2358  (available from HMSO - 0870 1502 500)

-         Copy of 1993 Amendment Regulations: S.I. 1993 No. 207

-         DTI Publication: 'A Guide to the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 (DTI:  Consumer Safety Unit, Department of Trade and Industry, 10-18 Victoria Street, LONDON SW1H 0NN)