More than one in five UK properties 'pose safety risk'
Property professionals
29th November 2011
An estimated on in five (21 per cent) properties in the UK contains a "major safety hazard", new research warns.
The study by SearchFlow suggests that the potential total cost to owners of fixing such problems is an estimated £52 billion.
According to the property expert, the severe hazards are so serious that local authorities are compelled to take action where they have been identified and either force households to carry out repairs immediately, vacate homes or face prosecution.
The report claims that the UK's housing stock is "in dangerous disrepair", with many hazards rated as Category 1 for health and safety, including risks such as lung cancer, burn injuries, heart attacks, poisoning and the loss of a hand or foot.
"Many homeowners are unaware they live with serious hazards every day," explained SearchFlow chief executive Stuart Pearce.
This news may be of particular interest to landlords with insurance for buildings, who were recently reminded by the Health and Safety Executive about the importance of carrying out checks on gas appliances at least once a year in order to ensure tenants are safe and they comply with regulations.
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