Fire brigade charge for rented property - landlord or tenant?

e06

I currently rent a property and had to call out the fire brigade after an appliance had an electrical problem. The appliance in question was provided by the landlord and is not mine. As it was emitting smoke, I was concerned that it had ignited internally. So I called 999 immediately and the fire brigade were dispatched. By the time they arrived it luckily hadn't developed into a fire, so they ensured that it was extinguished and went on their way. I am now expecting to be billed for this but am not clear on who is liable for fire brigade charges, is it the landlord or the tenant? Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.

Stephen15

It depends where you live really if your in some counties there are no fire call out fees whereas others it can be quite steep or in some cases it's only applies to rented properties which I assume is passed to the landlord.

Justhe on the subject fire brigade I think they are quite immoral as if losing personal possessions wasn't enough to be sent a €500+ invoice from your local county council just adds insult to injury. While I do recognise that the fire brigade dosent pay for its self but nor does the gardai or the ambulance service and both don't charge. Are fire brigade charges exclusive to ireland I haven't heard them in the uk or us.

blackmark

Stephen15 wrote: »

It depends where you live really if your in some counties there are no fire call out fees whereas others it can be quite steep or in some cases it's only applies to rented properties which I assume is passed to the landlord.

Justhe on the subject fire brigade I think they are quite immoral as if losing personal possessions wasn't enough to be sent a €500+ invoice from your local county council just adds insult to injury. While I do recognise that the fire brigade dosent pay for its self but nor does the gardai or the ambulance service and both don't charge. Are fire brigade charges exclusive to ireland I haven't heard them in the uk or us.

Covered by house insurance so there shouldn't be an issue here. Talk to the landlord and suss it out and if no satisfaction contact the PRTB for advice.

OU812

I would imagine that as you called them, you're responsible. The landlord supplied the appliance, but you use it.

Did you even call the landlord to discuss it with him?

amcalester

What was the appliance and was there any need to call the fire brigade?

A smoking toaster is slightly less serious to washing machine for example.

MarkR

OU812 wrote: »

I would imagine that as you called them, you're responsible. The landlord supplied the appliance, but you use it.

Did you even call the landlord to discuss it with him?

If my rented accomodation is on fire, you think I'd ring the landlord first?

OU812

MarkR wrote: »

If my rented accomodation is on fire, you think I'd ring the landlord first?

I think he'd have a right to know & should at least be the second to be called. but as the place was NOT on fire your comment is moot.

e06

Thanks for the replies. It was a washing machine and it was smoking pretty significantly, so I called the fire brigade ahead of my landlord given the circumstances. I couldn't see what was happening inside the machine, so it was 50/50 as to whether it escalated or fizzled out. Hindsight is a great thing. I discussed the incident with the landlord afterwards and he has since replaced it with a new machine. But it only occurred to me since then that I'll probably get bill for this in the post.

The general opinion I'm seeing from googling is that the liable party for the bill is either the property owner or the person who calls the fire brigade out (including some alleged cases of neighbours being charged €500 for doing the decent thing!).

Prenderb

The liable party will be either the landlord or the person who "benefitted" from the fire service's attendance, in this case the tenant.

Speak to the landlord when (if) you get the bill and see if you can come to an agreement on paying for it. If not, your insurance might cover it although that may lead to increased premiums.

Don't ignore it though, as many councils will pursue the charge with solicitors' letters etc. Speak to them if you have any difficulty paying as there may be a waiver scheme (in certain circumstances) or an agreement to instalments.

Just for clarity, it's not likely that a well-meaning neighbour calling the fire brigade to a house on fire would be charged. Consider that a fire in a house in a housing estate could lead to anywhere between 1 and 10+ calls made to 999 by neighbours. They won't be charged - it's the "beneficial owner" of the property who'll be charged.

Little CuChulainn

Stephen15 wrote: »

Justhe on the subject fire brigade I think they are quite immoral

I take it you mean fire brigade charges and not the fire brigade themselves.

mickdw

e06 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. It was a washing machine and it was smoking pretty significantly, so I called the fire brigade ahead of my landlord given the circumstances. I couldn't see what was happening inside the machine, so it was 50/50 as to whether it escalated or fizzled out. Hindsight is a great thing. I discussed the incident with the landlord afterwards and he has since replaced it with a new machine. But it only occurred to me since then that I'll probably get bill for this in the post.

The general opinion I'm seeing from googling is that the liable party for the bill is either the property owner or the person who calls the fire brigade out (including some alleged cases of neighbours being charged €500 for doing the decent thing!).

I believe the excepted work around if you are a neighbour who sees a house on fire or a car burning is to call the Gardai and give them the details. They will get fire brigade and no charges will follow to person who rang.

Prenderb

mickdw wrote: »

I believe the excepted work around if you are a neighbour who sees a house on fire or a car burning is to call the Gardai and give them the details. They will get fire brigade and no charges will follow to person who rang.

No. If the Fire Brigade is needed, Call the Fire Brigade. Always call the fire brigade. Calling the Gardaí just introduces another link in the chain and a potential address mixup and another delay while the Gardaí make contact with FB.

Call for the fire brigade. Tell the fire brigade directly where you need the brigade for.

The brigade will not charge a passerby or neighbour for a fire in a house or other premises.

Call the fire brigade.

mickdw

ya sorry. Obviously if there is danger to people, don't mess around. I was more referring to non critical cases where it has been known that the caller gets the bill.
One case that comes to mind was an old scooter burning down the end of a park. No immediate danger. Home owner near by rang the fire brigade and got stung for over 400.
There are numerous scenarios where they are really only required for the tidy up. those kind of cases.

timmywex

The person who benefits from the service is charged. Neighbours or people passing by who ring the fire brigade are not charged

run_Forrest_run

timmywex wrote: »

The person who benefits from the service is charged. Neighbours or people passing by who ring the fire brigade are not charged

you sure about that? A friend of mine called the fire brigade once because little scrotes around the area set fire to bins which was close to an electricity box/housing, neither was his but on common ground in the estate.

On ringing the fire brigade he was asked for his name and address. Some months later a bill arrived at his house for about €500 for the fire brigade call out.
Now obviously he didn't pay this but don't be so sure that neighbours etc won't be charged...or try to be charged anyway.

irishrgr

Interesting to read this. Fire department charges are now commonplace here in the US. Shrinking budgets and increased demand have driven this. In my region (Central Texas), most agencies charge for attending to include car crashes, fires, hazardous materials and medical first response. However, it's the property owner who gets billed (or the owner of a vehicle), not unlike the "beneficiary" in Ireland. Things like bins, dumpsters, etc. are billed to the owner, the caller has no liability. In most cases, it's covered by insurance. In the owner/tenant scenario, it would be spelled out in the terms and conditions of the lease. Locally charges range form $150 (medical response), $500 (car fire) to $2000 (house fire) with some sort of scale for commercial properties, etc.
Note: Emergency Medical Services are not free over here either, they all bill for service. A transport from in the city will run you about $2500 but it depends, a complex case with more interventions will run you more. A helicopter trip is mental expensive, locally $5000 take off fee, usual medial charges like a ground unit and $200/mile from scene to facility. Again, most of it covered by insurance. And yes, the medics have to get billing details, insurance cards and have the patient or a suitable rep (if available) sign the billing form.
Law enforcement doesn't charge for responses unless you have more than two false alarms on your property in a month, then as a condition of your alarm license, you get charged. Alarm companies do not go to 911, only to the companies call center who will subsequently ring the relevant emergency services.
It's a hard fact of life here in the US and a by product of the health care industry here. Hence why insurance is such a contentious issue in politics. A simple ankle fracture could suddenly have you in debt for thousands between the EMS and ER bills.
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