No smoke.............

If you are in the landlord game then you will be all to familiar with the changes that have affected the BTL game. Alot of the safety stuff is a no brainer and had to be introduced. But sometimes here is a thought that there is a bit of a knee jerk reaction to events that drives changes to BTL regulation without those in power using the grey matter to figure out a sensible solution.

A case in point!

Just heard from the Scottish Government that they are thinking about doing away with the requirement for landlords to hard wire smoke alarms following the Grenfell fire. The logic is that there has been such an improvement in the lifespan of batteries that the government are thinking that they will allow specific types of battery operated smoke detectors.

http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0052/00524309.pdf

Now correct me if I am wrong but I recall that I could buy these 10 year guaranteed smoke alarms at B&Q before the hard wire legislation came into force. Indeed I also recall that the fire brigade visited my house to install these super duper 10 year alarms at no cost years before the hard wire legislation came into force. So why did they bring the legislation in in the first place if these alarms existed pre legislation?

Hardwiring the smoke alarms makes perfect sense and whilst there is a significant cost in doing so, surely it is a better call to continue on with this legislation rather than change it again thus confusing all and sundry as to what is and is not compliant.

Nicola - sort it out!