Private rented homes and social housing are about to be affected by an amendment to the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015.
On October 1, landlords will be required to ensure there is a carbon monoxide alarm in every room housing a tenant if it contains a ‘fixed combustion appliance’ (i.e. anything that burns fuel to generate heat).
Gas cookers are excluded, but the amendment applies to all other appliances powered by gas, as well as those that use oil, coal or wood. This includes gas and oil boilers, as well as log-burning stoves.
The requirement to have at least one functioning smoke alarm on each storey of a building where someone lives has been a legal requirement for private rent landlords since 2015.
Failure to comply could lead to a £5,000 fine.
Although gas cookers are exempt, both we at Stirling Ackroyd and British Standards Institution recommend that you take these into account when choosing where to put carbon monoxide alarms. Legislation could change again to include them.
Repair When Informed
The 2022 amendment also requires that landlords make sure smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are repaired or replaced as soon as they are reported as faulty, though regular testing remains a tenant responsibility.
How Do I Prove Compliance?
The best way to prove that you are compliant is to keep a record of alarm purchases – and ensure that they are included in an inventory at the start of a tenancy.
What should I do now?
It is best practice to have alarms positioned at head height – between one and three metres away from any potential source of carbon monoxide. Third party installers will ideally be British Standard certified to do so. If you are unsure about either requirements or installation, contact Stirling Ackroyd Property Management team for more information.
