The Hidden Risk of E-Bikes—and the Critical Role of Regular Inspections
A Risk That’s Rolling Into Every Flat
E-bikes and e-scooters are solving real problems for urban renters—but they’re also introducing a fast-growing safety threat.
According to the UK Government’s Buy Safe, Be Safe guidance, lithium-ion batteries can cause serious fires when damaged, overcharged, or charged unsafely indoors. These fires spread quickly, are hard to contain, and in shared accommodation, one tenant’s charging habit can put every resident at risk.
Why HMOs Are Especially Vulnerable
In Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), landlords and housing officers are responsible for safety—but they don’t always know what’s happening inside each flat or shared space.
It’s all too common to see:
- Scooters charging in hallways
- Fire exits blocked by bikes
- Cables trailing across communal kitchens
In 2024 alone, there were 211 fires caused by e-bikes and scooters across the UK. Nearly half of those started while charging indoors. In London, the fire brigade now responds to one battery fire every two days.
Combine that with older building stock, limited ventilation, and a lack of fire safety awareness—and it’s a risk that can’t be ignored.
Inspections: More Than Compliance
The London Fire Brigade advises that all fire risk assessments be updated to reflect the dangers of storing or charging e-bikes and scooters indoors—especially in communal areas and escape routes.
Regular, structured inspections can:
- Catch unsafe charging and storage habits early
- Flag breaches to fire door protocols or blocked routes
- Build an auditable record of checks and actions taken
Inspections don’t just reduce risk. They reduce liability too.
Why This Still Gets Missed
In many organisations, inspections are still:
- Manual
- Inconsistent across buildings
- Logged in spreadsheets no one reviews
- Viewed as a cost centre, not a risk control
And the result? Hazards get missed. Fire safety isn’t tracked. Everyone assumes “someone else” is handling it.
But the most forward-thinking operators are changing that.
What Good Looks Like
The leading residential and HMO operators now treat inspections as an operational discipline—not just a compliance task.
What that looks like:
- Mobile-first inspections to keep pace with teams on the ground
- Tailored templates for high-risk assets like HMOs
- Instant flagging of hazards with automated follow-up workflows
- Time-stamped audit trails to support legal and insurance requirements
It’s Bigger Than Fire Safety
Fire safety is just the starting point. This is also about:
- Protecting your brand and reputation
- Reducing insurance premiums or meeting new policy requirements
- Staying ahead of enforcement as councils increase inspections and fines
One missed battery fire doesn’t just damage a flat. It can lead to:
- Evacuation of entire buildings
- Legal claims and compensation
- Long-term reputational damage with tenants and landlords
The cost of prevention is always lower than the cost of recovery.
So—Who Makes the First Move?
Whether you’re shaping policy, managing portfolios, or handling day-to-day ops:
- Set the inspection standard for HMO safety
- Compare the cost of digital inspections with a typical claims payout
- Start with one building. One template. One safer outcome
And if you’re not ready yet, bookmark this. Because when it comes to e-bike fires, the cost of inaction is only going up.
Sources:
- UK Government: Buy Safe, Be Safe fire safety guidance
- London Fire Brigade: E-bike and e-scooter fire statistics
- LFB: Fire safety advice for HMOs and communal areas
