Letter: Cost of fire risk assessments in New Forest should not be a surprise after Grenfell.

Your correspondent’s letter published on 11th August (Unpleasant shock for tenants) concerning fire risk assessments of a block of flats, should not have come as a surprise.

Since the Grenfell Tower fire, there has been an increased emphasis on fire safety in blocks of flats. Fire safety is a top priority. The property manager or residents’ association of a block of flats is required to carry out regular fire risk assessments in order to comply with the updated legislation.

Most leases will require the leaseholder to pay a specified proportion of the cost of maintaining the estate, including the cost of compliance with fire safety legislation.

A further complication is that the front door of each flat is considered to be a fire door and must comply with the legislation, either by repair or replacement.

However, unless the lease states otherwise, the front door of the flat belongs to the leaseholder, who is therefore personally responsible for compliance with the applicable fire safety legislation.

All blocks of flats must go through the process of a fire risk assessment and take any necessary action to comply as soon as possible. The enforcing authority for compliance with this legislation is the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service.

David Scillitoe

New Milton