County landlords are being urged by Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service to ensure their properties are adequately protected with smoke detection.
A total of 20 per cent of accidental house fires break out in Shropshire's private rented properties, revealed Alison Teece, of the brigade's Safety in the Home Team.
"Landlords have to make excess insurance payments, lose rental income and there is the potential loss of a good tenant who may need to be rehoused should a fire occur."
About 35 landlords learned more about the pitfalls of not having a working smoke alarm or wired smoke detectors in their rental properties at the Shropshire branch meeting of the Landlords Association held at the Shirehall in Shrewsbury to launch National Home Safety campaign which started on March 24 and runs until April 4.
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service are offering free Home Fire safety visits to tenants for two weeks when smoke detectors will be fitted free to their home and advice given to the tenant regarding fire prevention and having an escape plan as part of the campaign.
The fire safety team is also linking with letting agents to encourage the use of smoke alarms.
For further information please contact Alison Teece at Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service on 01743 260 258.
