Thanks for that Guns N Roses. Unfortunately, both bathrooms upstairs are internal rooms with no windows. The main bathroom has two extractor fans, one in the centre of the ceiling and the other directly over the shower which activates when the shower cord is pulled, and the en-suite has one.This type of extractor does not comply with the Regulations.
The Regulations state that bathrooms must be vented to external air. Venting to the eaves of the attic meets this requirement.
Is it? What are the rules?
(I provide smoke alarms (x2), a fire extinguisher and blanket, but not because of any rules, just common sense).
I'm registered with PRTB, but feel that if I have to carry out a BER on the house I might come in for some hefty costs. Is this part of the County Council check?
It is the local authorities responsibility to ensure that BER certs are available where required.
However, as the LA does not seem to get any of the money from BER certs, they seem to not bother about them.
The LA is entitled at any time to view a BER cert for any property that is offered for rent or sale, and the fact that a cert lasts for 10 years, could imply that if there is no cert currently available then the landlord may have been in contravention of the law when the property was put on the market.
Facetious, could you tell me where you're getting your information about LA's responsibilities regarding BER certs. I've never heard of this before.
This post is about inspections carried out under S.I. No. 462/2009 — Housing (Standards For Rented Houses)(Amendment) Regulations 2009. As far as I am aware, having a BER cert is not a requirement of these standards.
"windows in the bedrooms do not meet fire safety regulations for escape"
I managed to speak to the person who inspected the property and he told me that all my upstairs windows need to be replaced as the opeinings are too small under the fire safety regs.
They have to be a minimum of 45cm across and 75cm or more outward opening space.
The estate our rental property is in was built in 2000 and the windows are the original windows put in place by the developer. I asked the inspector how it was possible that the developer was allowed to install these windows if they don't meet fire safety regs and is there not a requirement under building regulations for developments to be inspected by a local authority building inspector to sign off that all regulations have been met.
He said he couldn't comment on that, but I'm now left with having to replace all the bedroom windows at my expense with no comeback to the Co Co who gave planning permission, approved the development etc. Do developers have to get a fire safety certificate from the local fire service?
The estate our rental property is in was built in 2000 and the windows are the original windows put in place by the developer. I asked the inspector how it was possible that the developer was allowed to install these windows if they don't meet fire safety regs and is there not a requirement under building regulations for developments to be inspected by a local authority building inspector to sign off that all regulations have been met.
He said he couldn't comment on that, but I'm now left with having to replace all the bedroom windows at my expense with no comeback to the Co Co who gave planning permission, approved the development etc. Do developers have to get a fire safety certificate from the local fire service?
While I don't want to put my tenants' lives at risk, I'm shocked by the findings and am wondering does anyone know if it's possible to take a case against the Co Co for giving permission for these windows to be installed?
I read the Housing Regulations when I got the letter and couldn't find any reference to the windows other than that they should be in working order.I'm not aware of any requirement to have a minimum opening width for fire escape under the HOUSING (STANDARDS FOR RENTED HOUSES)(AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 2009.
I found , which refers to the window openings, they're actually wider (85cm x 50cm) than the Housing Inspector told me (75cm x 45cm) and yes, it's in the Building Regulations and Building Control Regulations 1997.There may well be a minimum opening width requirement for windows in the Building Regulations which is a separate set of regulations from the Housing Regulations.
I think this covers the Co Co that I, as the owner, have to comply with the regs when required to do so.The onus is on the builder /developer and owner to demonstrate compliance with the Building Regulations when required to do so by the relevant local building control authority. Failure to do so is an offence under the Act which may if successfully prosecuted in court lead to a fine and/or a term of imprisonment.
The house was built in 2000 and I purchased it in 2004 from the original buyer. We also had a structural survey carried out, I'll have to dig it out to see if the surveyor mentioned the windows.You should however have received an "Opinion of Compliance with Building Regulations" prepared by your developers Architect or Engineer from your solicitor when you initially purchased the house.
I found , which refers to the window openings, they're actually wider (85cm x 50cm) than the Housing Inspector told me (75cm x 45cm) and yes, it's in the Building Regulations and Building Control Regulations 1997.
Battery powered smoke alarms [except permanent 10 year smoke alarms] do not meet the regulations.I recall inspections where tenants had batteries taken out of smoke alarms provided by the landlord, obviously they were a nuisance to them for their cigarette smoke !!!!
Battery powered smoke alarms [except permanent 10 year smoke alarms] do not meet the regulations.
That's fair enough-top only openings are dangerous, but I don't think the OP's are like that? Think they're just "a bit narrow" for the council. The house was only built a decade ago, so would be surprised if they had top opening windows only.Dunno when the parent got their windows replaced it made us realise that all the old windows in the house were top opening with about 30cm high gap. Very few could get out through them if there was a fire. That house was 25~30 yrs old. I expect there would be a lot of houses the same.
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