Is it legal to have bars on the windows of a ground floor flat?

[SpiritedAweigh]

ExH lives in a ground floor flat. It's a block of flats and there is only one door. His front door leading onto a corridor or other residents front doors.

Every window in the house is covered in bars. Not unlockable, but attached the the window frame with screws, for security reasons I presume.

Only if there was a fire and the main (only) exit was blocked there is no quick escape bar getting a screwdriver out to remove the bars. Totally impractical of course.

Since the Grenfell Tower accident and also the flat fire in Manchester today I can't help worrying about fire and what would happen if there was one when my kids stay over.

Can he ask the landlord to remove them?

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In Glasgow two students died in a fire because of inadequate fire safety including bars on the windows.

Off topic but you sound as if you are doing a great job of co-parentkng your kids with your ex.

I once rented a ground floor flat in a purpose built block, we didn't have bars on the windows but at one point there was building work for six months and all our windows were covered by scaffolding. You were only able to open the windows about 5cm gap them being there.

I complained to the builders and contacted the fire authority but as it was, as long as there's one escape route, our front door, that is legally enough.

I second having the fire department look at them. Might be possible for you to ring them and explain your fears and then if they say it's a breach of fire regulations they can advise the landlord without your ex possibly facing being evicted for being a difficult tenant. I'd definitely be worried for the same reasons you are.

I got the impression that you were friends I was just concerned that youd be opening yourself up for problems in the future if it was court ordered.

My friend used to allow my god daughter dad to stay over access weekends while she stayed at her parents, or her boyfriends. It works in the short term but it sounds like it would be if your looking for flats inn the new year

Thankyou Persian. A lot of people think it's weird we are friends still and so close but we were together such a long time and we still want to be in each other's lives. I have a new partner and he stayed here 3 nights over Christmas with us (on the couch of course) so the kids could be with both of us.

We are all very lucky that we can all get along and my new partner understands how important it is that we are on good terms.

AS for the bars I think I might ask him to 'loosen' them a little so there's still the impression of a fortress to any potential Burglar Bills but if the needed to come down quickly it would be easier. But in the new year we are going to try and find him a nicer place.

I don't think it is weird, I think it is great that you get on so well.

At my cousin's wedding at the top table he sat next to his Mum, then Dad, then stepmum.

His Mum often leant round her ex husband to speak to his current wife.

Lovely to see people just moving on in life

It's great that you get on so well. I spend my working life dealing with people who don't so forgive my original post 😊