South and East Belfast Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Fire safety warning for Students-Maskey

Published: 18 September, 2008

Sinn Féin MLA for South Belfast Alex Maskey has appealed for students returning to University and living in private rented accommodation to ensure that there is a properly working smoke alarm system in their building and for landlords to have adequate fire safety measures in place for tenants.

Alex Maskey said

"Over the next few weeks hundreds of students from across the Six Counties will be heading off to University and many of them will be setting up home here in South Belfast. This can be a very daunting experience particularly for those students setting up home on their own.

I feel it's very important that students living in private rented accommodation ensure that there is a properly working and maintained smoke alarm system in their property. It's crucial that all of the safety checks required in relation to their accommodation are carried out before they move in and if all is not in order they should complain to the landlord.

"Landlords must also make sure there are adequate fire safety measures in place for tenants. I would ask landlords to have a proper fire evacuation plan in their tenancy agreements so that residents are made aware of how to exit a building as quickly as possible in the event of a fire. Provision must also be made for students you have hearing difficulties or disabilities, smoke alarms can now be acquired that have a vibrating pad or a flashing light"

These few simple precautions when moving into new accommodation could mean the difference between life and deat