Keeping Warm This Winter

When the weather is cold and frosty what better to come home to than the warming glow of a real fire? So it’s no wonder that woodburning stoves have become so popular in recent years – especially in London’s leafy suburbs. But for obvious reasons landlords with a woodburning stove installed in their property must abide by safety regulations and keep the stove and chimney in good condition. So here’s our guide to the essential safety issues for landlords.

Top Safety Tips
First, check with your insurer to see if they have any special requirements for properties that have a woodburner.

If the stove was installed after October 2010, it should comply with Building Regulations. It should have been installed by a HETAS approved engineer who will either have ‘self-certificated’ or obtained Building Regulation consent. Make sure you keep the certificate in a safe place. The regulations also require you to install a carbon monoxide detector and regularly check that this is in good working order.

Key Responsibilities
It is also the landlord’s responsibility to regularly maintain and repair the stove although there is no requirement to obtain any form of certification. Make sure the chimney is swept once a year and arrange for any maintenance to be carried out at the same time.

If the stove was installed before October 2010 you won’t need a certificate but you should be confident that the stove is safe and well maintained, preferably installing carbon monoxide and smoke detectors as well.

Get in Touch With Us for Advice
If you’re in any doubt as to what safety measures you should take then, as always, feel free to post a question on this blog.