Responsibility for the fire resistance of furniture in rental properties may seem like a grey area, but luckily there is a clear defining line. In a furnished flat or house the landlord or letting agent is responsible for ensuring that any upholstered furniture provided as part of the tenancy agreement complies with the legislation as dictated by the 1993 amendment to the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988. They are also duty-bound to ensure that any mattresses supplied carry a label showing that they conform to BS7177.
If a property is rented as unfurnished, then it is the responsibility of the tenant to ensure any upholstered furniture or mattresses brought into the property are suitably fire resistant, for the safety of themselves and their family.
If you are a Landlord looking for further information about fire safety in general, make sure to visit our dedicated help section where you will find a selection of informative articles.
Reviewed: 01/10/2019 (doc:109 V1.0). Our articles are reviewed regularly. However, any changes made to standards or legislation following the review date will not have been considered. Please note that we provide abridged, easy-to-understand guidance. To make detailed decisions about your fire safety provisions, you might require further advice or need to consult the full standards and legislation.
