Freeholder and fire safety concerns

[Elouera]

Our owned flat is 1 of 4 sitting above an unoccupied shop. At the top of the stairs is a large skylight, ceiling window. I was advised that in the event of a fire, this large window has a trigger and opens to allow smoke out of the stairwell.

The past year, the trigger hasn't worked and the chain connecting the window has been broken. We've contacted the freeholder multiple times and even told the guys that checked the communal smoke detectors yet nothing has been done. The window flaps in the wind and means someone on the roof terrace could just lift the window and climb in the stairwell.

Surely this is a breach of H&S or a fire safety concern? I'm unsure who to contact now? Fire brigade? Council? Any help appreciated.

Speak to the local fire service. Your freeholder is the 'responsible person' under the RRO (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and should be getting this sorted. It is a really easy fix (sometimes the chains come loose on an AOV) but they should be getting it resolved. It's possible that they think that the smoke ventilation system is being serviced at the same time as the alarms, but ignorance isn't a defence. The fire brigade can serve a Notice on the freeholder to resolve.