Chaos over shortage of ‘gold dust’ fire alarms
A LAST-MINUTE dash by home- owners to ensure their properties do not fall foul of new safety laws is being hampered by widespread shortages of fire alarms.
Hundreds of thousands of flats and houses across Scotland are expected to breach the regulations when they come into force on Tuesday.
Opposition politicians have called for a delay in the implementation of the law, which requires all residential properties to have interlinked fire and smoke detectors.
The Scottish Government’s own research, conducted by YouGov last month, showed only 17 per cent of homeowners in a survey of 1,017 adults were compliant, indicating that more than a million of Scotland’s 1.5 million homeowners had still to install the required systems.
Inquiries by the Scottish Mail on Sunday with electricians last week found many reports of stock shortages. One, in the Glasgow area, said: ‘The problem is supply at the moment. They are like gold dust. Some people have been going online and buying cheaper ones but I would recommend getting ones which are a bit better.’
Retailers also reported patchy supplies, with one B&Q store having limited quantities on Friday and a tarpaulin covering shelves and directing customers to check online. The Screwfix website also reported limited supplies.
It costs about £100 per alarm for the devices to be supplied and fitted by a registered electrician. A typical three-bedroom house over two floors requires four alarms.
Scottish Conservative housing spokesman Miles Briggs said: ‘It’s absurd and unfair that hundreds of thousands of Scots are set to become lawbreakers overnight.
‘The SNP’s shoddy planning and dismal public awareness campaign have left huge numbers of homeowners falling short of the requirements.
‘With the latest advice confirming home insurance policies may be impacted, people are extremely worried their home may no longer be covered in the event of a fire. It’s not too late for the SNP to call an eleventh-hour delay to this policy.’
Iain Mason, of electricians’ trade group Select, said homeowners should always use a qualified electrician for any work.
A spokeswoman for the Association of British Insurers said: ‘Our members are unlikely to invalidate a claim for customers who haven’t yet complied. Anyone unclear on their policy should speak to their insurer.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘No one will be penalised for missing the deadline. Homeowners are strongly encouraged to install these alarms as soon as they can because they save lives.’