Fires soar in purpose-built flats without smoke alarms

More than 1,200 fires broke out in purpose-built flats over the past year where no fire alarms were installed, according to new data.

Findings from Drax Technology reveal London recorded the highest number of fires. The firm analysed incident data reported by Fire and Rescue Services across England, covering purpose-built flats of all sizes between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025.

A purpose-built flat could be part of a build-to-rent development, managed by a housing association, or privately owned.

Vast majority of fires were recorded as accidental

According to the data, the vast majority of the fires were recorded as accidental and were caused by the ‘misuse of equipment or appliances’ such as cookers, fridges and toasters.

The findings classify each fire by whether smoke alarms were present and how well they worked. ‘Alarm Absent’ indicates the worst-case situation, where no smoke alarms were installed.

Of these, 651 were recorded in London, including 78 fires in high-rise flats. Meanwhile, nine of the affected flats were in buildings noted to have cladding, located across Avon, Essex, Greater London, and Hampshire.

Across England, a total of 5,581 fires were recorded with ‘no alarm present’ in all property types.

Alarms save lives and operating without one is incredibly dangerous

David Simpson, group product director at Drax Technology, urges property managers of purpose-built flats to install fire alarms and keep on top of the rules.

He said: “These findings should prompt immediate action from anyone responsible for residents’ safety, whether in Build to Rent schemes, social housing, or private developments.

“Alarms save lives and operating without one is incredibly dangerous. All of these fires occurred in an occupied home so we’re talking about vulnerable people including families and pensioners at risk.”

He adds: “Keeping an up-to-date digital record of a building’s fire-safety systems is critical to preventing risks. There’s no place for guesswork. Relying on outdated tools or unclear responsibilities erodes system resilience and leaves lives exposed. Effective safety management depends on real-time visibility at all times.

“With modern monitoring, resilient systems, and live alerts, building managers can track alarm performance across all their buildings every single day. Issues are spotted and resolved faster, false alarms are reduced, and compliance becomes easier to maintain. Above all, residents can be confident that their alarms will work when they need them most.”