Teresa has today backed plans to protect people who rent their homes from the risk of death because of fires by ensuring that landlords have smoke alarms installed in properties they let out.
Evidence shows that house fires in which a smoke detector raises the alarm are discovered more rapidly and lead to fewer casualties. Official statistics reveal that privately rented homes have a lower percentage of smoke alarms when compared to owner occupied, local authority or housing association properties.
Nine million people are living in rented homes today, over a million families, and over two million children. Backing the mandatory installation of smoke alarms in the private rented sector is the latest part of the campaign to build a safer and more secure private rented sector.
Teresa said:
“We know that smoke alarms save lives and that privately rented properties are the least likely to have smoke alarms.
There are a growing number of people and families in my constituency living in the private rented sector and they deserve better. That’s why I’m backing plans to ensure that people have safer homes that offer greaterstability and security.”
