West Yorkshire Coroner David Hinchliff believes multiple sclerosis sufferer Anita Granger, 39, could have survived had smoke detectors been fitted in her home.
Her inquest heard how landlords Leeds Federated Housing Association had been urged as far back as 1984 to install the devices which cost just a few pounds.
But the organisation – which prides itself on helping its most vulnerable residents – admitted it had ignored the advice of the fire service.
Blasting its bosses, Mr Hinchliff told the court: "It dismays me that this was a flat owned by a housing association and it was known to them that their occupant was disabled, in fact suffering from multiple sclerosis, and, notwithstanding a warning from the fire service in the 1980s, nothing had been done to install smoke detectors.
"The association needs to look at its plans because someone could perish in exactly the same circumstances."
The organisation has now promised an urgent safety review of all its 4,000 properties.
Miss Granger's parents have welcomed the pledge and said their daughter's death would not have been in vain if it helped prevent a similar tragedy.
Dad Richard said: "It might just be that some good can come from it. If all properties get a smoke alarm in future that can only be a positive thing."
The court heard how in March last year neighbours battled to save Miss Granger, 39, after her fire alarm went off.
However, they could not get into the flat in Hanover Square, Woodhouse, because her body was trapped behind the door.
Her flat had been fitted with a heat detector, but that did not trigger the fire alarm until the temperature inside the building reached 60C.
Mr Hinchliff said a smoke detector would have given a much earlier warning and could have meant Miss Granger getting out alive.
He added: "It is a well known fact that smoke detectors will activate at the earliest possible time and probably would warn a neighbour or passer-by of the problem. That time could make the difference between a person surviving or otherwise."
Fire investigator Duncan Stainthorpe narrowed down the cause of the blaze to either a discarded cigarette, or more likely, an electrical fault with Miss Granger's emergency care panic system.
It is thought the fire spread rapidly and she died very quickly.
Mr Stainthorpe told the court: "This was a ferocious fire. There were no smoke detectors fitted, despite a recommendation in 1984 by the fire service. At the time, however, it was not legally enforceable."
Leeds Federated Housing Association said it had complied with all existing building control regulations when the house was converted into flats in 1984. Those rules had since changed, but the association did not have a retrospective policy of installing smoke detectors.
Chief executive Matthew Walker added: "We would like to express our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Ms Granger. The safety of our tenants is our overriding priority and we must do whatever we can to ensure that such an tragic incident cannot happen again.
"The property was fitted with a legally compliant heat detector which we know to have been in good working order. It is possible that a smoke alarm could have helped to prevent this tragic accident and, whilst there is no guarantee that this is the case, we now routinely fit these in all new properties and when we inspect existing properties prior to re-letting.
"In light of this inquest, we have now stepped up our replacement programme to ensure that the small number of properties fitted with heat detectors only are fitted with smoke detectors, as recommended by the Coroner."
Mr Hinchliff recorded a verdict of accidental death.