Question reference: S5W-32521
- Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 13 October 2020
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Current status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 27 October 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on trades people’s ability to enter private homes, combined with loss of earnings, whether it will consider a one-year delay to the implementation of the amendment to the Housing (Scotland) Act (1987) that requires home owners to pay an average of £220 by February 2021 to comply with the new fire safety regulations.
Answer
Yes. Improving fire safety remains a key priority for the Scottish Government, and our intention is that everyone should benefit from the same level of protection, whether you own your home or rent from a social or private landlord. However, the Scottish Government recognises the challenges, due to COVID-19, that affect home owners and the work needed to meet the new safety standards for fire and smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Therefore I intend to bring forward regulations shortly which, subject to Parliamentary approval, will amend the commencement date for new minimum standards to 1 February 2022.