Rowen calls for landlords to take more responsibility!

3.15.43pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 18th Jul 2005

Paul fits a smoke alarm at the home of Rochdale pensioner Joyce Haynes.

Rochdale MP - Paul Rowen, has renewed his call for all landlords to fit and regularly check smoke alarms in all their properties. His campaign follows the recent tragedy in his Constituency where 3 young children died. Paul has written an Early Day Motion that has been supported by over 40 MP's to lobby for a change in the law. Paul is encouraging more MP's to show their support for an extra responsibility for Landlords to keep checking their tenant's smoke alarms.

Paul said, "I know that people in Rochdale and throughout Greater Manchester are still stunned about this tragedy. The fact that a simple check would have revealed that the smoke alarm in question had no battery makes it even more heartbreaking. I am calling on all landlords in Rochdale to take a proactive responsibility to make sure that this never happens again. In the mean time I would ask everyone to take 2 simple steps - firstly check that your smoke alarm has a battery and secondly that it works."

Paul's Early Day Motion has been supported so far by 41 MP's from all parties - Paul said, "Early Day Motions are a way of bringing awareness to particular problems - I hope that if enough MP's sign to show their support we will see moves to change the law to require all Landlords to fit and regularly check smoke alarms in their properties."

Paul Rowen is calling on Rochdale Borough Housing to set an example to all landlords and to carry out an urgent review of all their properties. "I know that by law Rochdale Borough Housing and all Housing Associations who operate in our area have to provide smoke alarms but I think that as a matter of urgency all properties need to be checked."

Paul has congratulated the Greater Manchester Fire Service and local media for launching a campaign to bring more public awareness in fire prevention.