Rented Student Accomodation - Toaster Fire

Skull

Skull

Skull

Soldato
Joined
15 Jan 2005
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2,717
Location
London
So I lived in a house with 4 other people, tenancy expires 30th June. Today, the toaster, which was in the house when we moved in, caught fire, and the house mate dealing with it couldn't put it out (no fire extinguishers or blankets provided) and combined with the fire brigades sledgehammering,damage has been caused to the kitchen.

After initial contact with the landlord, they seem to be suggesting that we're liable for the damage. This seems pretty outrageous. Anyone had experience with this before?
 
Why isn't the landlord insured against fire? I wouldn't give in to the landlord at all sine you must have fire equipment in the kitchen. I would personally refuse to pay and dispute anything being taken from the deposit using the arbitrator's procedures.
 
I'd imagine for a 5 bed tenancy your landlord should have an HMO license which would mean he should provide fire extinguishing equipment. Plenty of landlords don't apply for this as it's quite costly - fire doors need fitted, wired smoke detectors, etc. Basically he's breaking the law, not sure what the penalties would be but I reckon he would probably rather just give you your deposit to shut you up.

I don't have experience of this in England however so check out:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/rentingandletting/privaterenting/housesmultiple/
 
Aren't there laws about fire safety for rented properties with more than 2 bedrooms? Perhaps it's only in Scotland, but my boyfriends old landlord had to provide a fire extinguisher and fit fire doors because laws changed.
 
Yeah, you're meant to be given blankets so like likwid says I wouldn't worry about getting your deposits back. One less room to clean too :)
 
Vixen said:
Aren't there laws about fire safety for rented properties with more than 2 bedrooms? Perhaps it's only in Scotland, but my boyfriends old landlord had to provide a fire extinguisher and fit fire doors because laws changed.
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Its probably just a rented house, not some sort of apartment
 
My uncle rents a 3 bedroom house to students and I recently helped him install fire extinguishers, Co2 detectors and blankets around the house as he received a letter saying what he had was not enough (smoke alarms only).
 
Tell your housemate to man up.
Toasters tend to catch fire quite easily. Just unplug them and throw them out the window, job done!
 
If the toaster went on fire because it was faulty, the landlord is responsible and it shouldn't matter whether no-one could put it out.
 
Skull said:
the fire brigades sledgehammering,damage has been caused to the kitchen.

After initial contact with the landlord, they seem to be suggesting that we're liable for the damage. This seems pretty outrageous. Anyone had experience with this before?
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Any structural damage (walls etc), arnt they part of the BUILDING insurance?
For some reason, my insurance company told me that the kitchen (and fitted cupboards) are part of my buildings insurance, which is covered by my service charge. This was when i called up to apply for contents insurance.
 
touch said:
Tell your housemate to man up.
Toasters tend to catch fire quite easily. Just unplug them and throw them out the window, job done!
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If it were to be possible to unplug or isolate at the fuse box and fight the fire then a wet towel probably would be safer. :)
 
I've been in a slightly similar situation. When staying at a holiday cottage for a week with some mates a toaster caught fire. Luckily there was a fire blanket and I wrapped it in that and took it outside. Also, as I got to it quick enough the only damage was just some very faint marks on the cupboard above. The owner tried to charge us for a new toaster and fire blanket, but after we pointed out it was his cheap rubbish toaster that caused the problem he dropped it.

Since then I actually bought a fire blanket for my own house as without that things could have been a lot worse.

PK!
 
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