Fire Safety Rights for Renters in Wales: Your Guide

As a renter in Wales, your safety at home is a priority. Fire safety laws protect you by making it clear what your landlord must provide. This guide explains your rights, your landlord's responsibilities, and what to do if you have concerns about fire hazards in your rented property.

Understanding Fire Safety Regulations for Renters in Wales

Fire safety in Welsh rental properties is governed by specific laws that aim to reduce risks and ensure tenants’ safety. These rules apply whether you rent a flat, house, or shared accommodation.

Landlord Responsibilities: Keeping Your Home Fire Safe

Your landlord has legal duties under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (amended 2021 & 2022) and related regulations to maintain certain fire safety standards:

• Install at least one working smoke alarm on each storey of your home and make sure they work at the start of your tenancy.
• Provide a carbon monoxide alarm in every room with a solid fuel-burning appliance (like a wood-burning stove).
• Carry out regular checks on electrical installations to ensure they are safe (at least every five years).
• Maintain all supplied furniture and furnishings to meet fire resistance requirements.
• In Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), fit adequate fire doors, alarms, and provide clear escape routes as required by the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS).

If your landlord fails to meet these duties, you have a right to ask for improvements or report the issue to your local council.

Your Responsibilities as a Tenant

While your landlord must ensure fire safety features are provided, you should:

• Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms regularly and report faults to your landlord immediately.
• Keep escape routes clear and avoid blocking doorways, windows, or hallways.
• Follow building or house rules around fire safety, especially in shared accommodation.

Remember, your active participation also keeps you and your household safer.

Key Fire Safety Forms and How to Use Them

If you need to raise a serious concern or make an official complaint about fire safety in your rented home, the following official forms and processes are most relevant:

• Renting Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Form (RHFFHH1) – This form is used to notify your landlord that the property is not fit for human habitation, which includes fire safety risks.
  Example: If you discover your smoke alarms aren’t working and the landlord will not repair them, send the RHFFHH1 form to your landlord and keep a copy. This can trigger action by the local council if unresolved.
• Local Authority Housing Complaint Form – Local councils have online or paper forms to report safety hazards. For example, you can use the official council finder to contact your area’s housing/environmental health team.[1]

Fire Safety and the Residential Property Tribunal Wales

If a dispute over fire safety cannot be resolved, you or your landlord can apply to the Residential Property Tribunal Wales. This independent tribunal handles housing issues under Welsh law and can intervene if statutory safety duties are breached.

What the Law Says: Key Legislation

• Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (including amendments in 2021 and 2022) – Sets out landlord obligations for fire and electrical safety.[2]
• The Renting Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) (Wales) Regulations 2022 – Defines hazards that include fire-related risks.
• Welsh Government housing standards guidance – Provides practical details for both landlords and tenants.

What to Do If You Have Fire Safety Concerns

If you are worried about fire risks in your rented home:

• Contact your landlord as soon as possible. Use email or a letter, and keep a copy.
• If nothing happens, use your local authority’s complaint process and fill in the relevant form.
• In urgent situations (like missing smoke alarms), contact your local council’s environmental health team directly.
• If your complaint isn’t resolved, you may appeal or take your case to the Residential Property Tribunal Wales.

Most issues are resolved before reaching the tribunal, but you have the right to pursue all these steps if needed.

FAQ: Fire Safety Rights for Renters in Wales

1. What should my landlord provide for fire safety in Wales?
   Landlords must fit working smoke alarms on every storey, provide carbon monoxide alarms in rooms with fuel-burning devices, and ensure all electrical systems are regularly checked.
2. Can I refuse to pay rent if my landlord ignores fire safety hazards?
   No, you should continue paying rent but report the issue in writing and contact your local council if the hazard is not fixed.
3. How do I officially report a fire safety issue?
   Use your local council’s housing complaint form or the RHFFHH1 form for fitness concerns. Escalate to the Residential Property Tribunal Wales if necessary.
4. What is the Residential Property Tribunal Wales?
   It is an independent tribunal that handles disputes about housing in Wales, including fire safety standards and landlord obligations.
5. Does my landlord have to give me a copy of the electrical safety certificate?
   Yes, landlords are required to provide a valid Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) every five years or when you move in.

Conclusion: Key Takeaways for Renters in Wales

• Your landlord is legally required to provide key fire safety measures and respond to hazards.
• Use the right official forms and contact your local council if action is not taken.
• The Residential Property Tribunal Wales is available if more help is needed.

Staying aware of your rights and taking quick action on fire safety concerns can help protect you and those you live with.

Need Help? Resources for Renters

• Welsh Government: Renting Homes Guide
• Residential Property Tribunal Wales: For formal disputes and appeals
• Find Your Local Council: Report urgent hazards to environmental health
• Shelter Cymru: Fire Safety Advice

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1. Welsh Government Private Rented Sector Quality Standards
2. Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016

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