Rented house with windows that don’t open

[JaneExotic]

Is this allowed?
DD has moved into a brand new ground floor flat. One of the things she loved was the light - 3 very large windows in the living room/kitchen and 1 in the bedroom.

Bizarrely none of the windows can be opened. They are literally fixed pieces of glass.

Does the flat have mechanical ventilation instead?

Is there access in case of a fire

I couldn’t tolerate that - I’m a fresh air fanatic and have my windows open for short periods even in the winter.

How does it look from a fire safety viewpoint?

Do none of the upper panes open? There are probably trickle vents for ventilation.

No vents in the windows. One extraction fan in the kitchen. None in the bedroom.

No fire escape. Just the one door into the corridor.

@JaneExotic

No vents in the windows. One extraction fan in the kitchen. None in the bedroom.

No fire escape. Just the one door into the corridor.

That doesn’t sound at all safe.

Suppose the fire was outside her bedroom door, blocking her access into the corridor?

Habitable rooms (e.g. not toilets) need two methods of escape, one would be the door the other very often a window or another door, there are also ventilation requirements but these can be met by trickle vents.

I would get in touch with the fire brigade and ask for their advice, is the door a even fire door, are there fire sensors or smoke alarms, if its unsafe the LL shouldnt be renting it out.

@Daftasabroom As far as I know, purge ventilation requirements can't be satisfied with trickle vents. The air changes per hour requires a much larger aperture, or mechanical ventilation which can be boosted to achieve it.

England? Tell her to read the how to rent guide that she should have been given , it gives sources of advice and what should be there.

Sounds horrible though. And it is brand-new?

Yes, brand new. That’s why I’m doubting myself! Can anyone point me towards any up to date guidance?

You can download the Housing Act 2004 fire regulations online

In the short term ask her to keep a hammer near the window.
If fire does happen then she should be able to smash the glass.
She should already have fitted smoke alarms but check they work by burning a piece of paper near them which should be enough to set them off.

Can she ask the letting agents how she opens the windows? Just in case they do open but it’s not clear.
If they don’t open I would want them to advise what would happen if she needed to escape because of fire

What happens in a heat wave or when she burns the toast? A daft idea.

Could it be anything to do with the ‘hermetic homes policy'?

I know there was talk about 5 years ago to build homes without opening windows in polluted areas.

I'm unsure if anything came of it though as I'm no longer working in a relevant industry.

Give Shelter a ring in the morning.

I know when we were having windows fitted we were told that there had to be an opening one in each upstairs room. I'm not sure if there were regulations for ground floor.

Sounds awful. How dreadful.

They are at ground level and would not need to be a window through which to escape. You would need to read up on picture Windows.

I had the opposite last year in my student house, windows could open but landlord refused to provide the key in case of fire (ground floor room) all well and good until a bloke popped his head through my window at 3 am claiming he thought it was next doors and I wanted to lock it ached

I have seen these kind of properties being specified in planning permissions - particularly in polluted areas

I second getting in touch with the letting agent to check in case they are some strange obscure design of window that opens in a non obvious way.

Also hammer by the window, just in case.

Contact the letting agencies if no luck contact the local council for an inspection.