Every time a fire alarm sounds in a multi-storey apartment building, residents are disrupted, often evacuated, and trust in the system is tested.
Analysis by Drax Technology found that emergency fire crews attended 22,000 false fire alarms in multi-storey apartment blocks across England in just one year, the equivalent of 61 callouts for false alarms every day. Unfortunately, the situation is worsening, with incidents rising 10% year on year.
While the data is not specific to the Build to Rent sector, operators are facing growing pressure to ensure their fire safety systems are accurate, reliable, and properly maintained.
What the data shows
Drax Technology analysed data collected by Fire and Rescue Services across England, which details occasions when crews attended a location believing there was a fire, only to find none on arrival.
Key findings include:
22,195 false alarms in medium and high-rise apartments in 2024/25, up from 20,215 the year before.
2,000+ callouts required the mobilisation of between seven and nine fire service vehicles.
6,631 incidents caused by faulty, damaged, poorly maintained, or incorrectly positioned alarms – up 17% year on year.
Nationally, 250,226 false fire alarms were recorded across all property types, meaning incidents in multi-storey apartments account for almost one in ten of all callouts.
The majority of false alarms were caused by cooking fumes, steam, dust, aerosol sprays, and smoking. But the sharp rise in cases where alarms themselves were at fault underlines the urgent need for reliable installation and ongoing maintenance.
Why this matters for BTR
The rising numbers highlight significant risks:
Resident disruption from repeated evacuations and disturbances.
Erosion of trust as tenants become desensitised to alarms, risking complacency in the event of a real fire.
Reputational damage if operators are perceived to cut corners on safety.
The case for remote alarm management
The findings highlight the urgent need for BTR operators to adopt smarter fire safety systems with remote monitoring and management capabilities.
Remote alarm management allows operators to:
Verify alarms in real time.
Silence or reset false alarms quickly, avoiding unnecessary emergency callouts.
Track recurring issues with detailed event histories.
Provide robust audit trails for compliance and reporting.
Minimise disruption and reassure residents that safety is always prioritised.
As the BTR sector matures, premium standards are expected to underpin premium rents. Fire safety is no exception.
Building safer, smarter communities
False alarms don’t just waste emergency service resources; they undermine confidence and put lives at risk. By adopting remote monitoring and analytics, BTR operators can:
Strengthen compliance with evolving fire safety regulations.
Demonstrate transparency and professionalism to residents.
Protect reputations in an increasingly competitive rental market.
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