Landlords urged to act as e-bike fires reach record levels in London

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has warned that 2025 will likely become the city’s worst year on record for e-bike and e-scooter fires, with 165 incidents already recorded by the end of September, including 134 e-bike fires. At the current rate, London is on course to exceed 200 incidents by the end of the year.

Tragically, several serious fires have occurred in recent months, including one in Wood Green in June that claimed the life of a 30-year-old woman. The fire was caused by the failure of a lithium-ion battery pack for an e-bike while charging, a pattern seen in many of the incidents reported by LFB this year. Assistant Commissioner for Prevention and Protection, Pamela Oparaocha, urges for greater awareness and stronger action to prevent further tragedies.

Many fires are linked to modified or low-cost devices, often purchased online without meeting UK safety standards. Converted e-bikes used in the gig economy, continue to feature prominently in incident reports, where riders rely on aftermarket batteries or chargers to increase range and reduce costs.

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has now warned that these safety gaps will continue to put residents at risk unless Government introduces mandatory third party testing for personal light electric vehicles and tighter regulation of online marketplaces. NFCC has urged ministers to ensure that any e-bike or e-scooter sold in the UK must meet designated safety standards, including products imported or sold via third party sellers.

The LFB is now contacting delivery companies including Uber Eats, Just Eat and Deliveroo, urging them to share essential safety information with riders.

Infrastructure must keep pace with e-mobility growth

The rapid increase in e-mobility use has not been matched by the provision of appropriate storage and charging facilities, particularly in social housing. Too often, e-mobility devices are stored and charged inside individual homes, stairwells or communal areas, creating significant fire risk and obstructing escape routes in densely populated properties. 

As such, secure external enclosures designed to isolate charging activity are becoming a vital element of fire safety strategy for housing providers. These facilities help mitigate risk and encourage safe, responsible use by providing clearly designated spaces for residents who depend on their e-mobility devices.

NFCC has also called for updated Building Regulations guidance so that the specific fire risks linked to storing and charging energy technologies inside homes and public places are fully addressed. Clearer national expectations would support landlords in planning appropriate storage locations and ensure that building design keeps pace with rapidly increasing e-mobility use.

New guidance on mobility scooters

NFCC have released updated Mobility Scooter in Residential Buildings Guidance for consultation, reflecting advances in battery technology and lessons from recent incidents. 

To help housing providers understand the proposed changes, metroSTOR’s latest webinar will feature Andy Frankum, Chair of the National Social Housing Fire Strategy Group (NSHFSG), to explore how the new guidance will shape policy, design and safe infrastructure for years to come.

Find out more and register for this important webinar here.

Implications for landlords and housing providers

With the frequency and severity of lithium battery fires rising, housing providers face increasing responsibility to manage this risk proactively. Landlords may need to review tenancy agreements, risk assessments and resident communication to ensure compliance with emerging fire safety guidance. 

NFCC’s recent position statements indicate that mandatory product safety rules, independent third party testing and clearer regulatory guidance for charging and storage areas are likely to strengthen in the coming years. Housing providers will need to stay alert to these developments and be prepared to adapt policy and practice accordingly.

Insurers and fire authorities are also placing greater emphasis on demonstrable control measures, including the provision of designated storage and charging facilities. Taking early action to implement secure infrastructure can help reduce liability, strengthen compliance and safeguard residents.

At metroSTOR, we continue to work closely with landlords to reduce risk through infrastructure for storing and charging e-mobility devices safely. metroSTOR Personal Mobility Device Storage and Charging Units provide compliant, secure solutions from individual lockers to communal hubs. Options include fire-resistant construction, energy metering and access control to support housing providers in keeping residents safe.