Updated Smoke and CO Alarm Regulations for Rental Properties

Changes to smoke and carbon monoxide alarm regulations for rental properties have come into force. These changes in legislation differ across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Use this guide to clarify your legal obligations as a landlord to ensure that you comply.

England

The new Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022, effective in England from October 1^st 2022, introduce changes to smoke and CO requirements in social housing. The provision of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in social housing is now equivalent to the private sector.

What has changed with the new smoke alarm regulations?

Landlords of both private rentals and social housing are now required to install at least one smoke alarm on every level of a rented property that has rooms that are classed as ‘living accommodation’.

The previous legislation Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations 2015 stipulated this only in relation to private rental properties.

What type of smoke alarm does my rental property need?

As yet, there are no specifications included in the new regulations for the type of smoke alarm needed. Radio-interlinked smoke alarms are recommended for social and private rentals as they provide a more comprehensive warning system and allow the occupants more time to escape. This may be of particular importance in properties with young children, the elderly or if the occupant has any impairment or vulnerability that may impact their ability to escape. Inter-linked smoke alarms give a warning on all floors at the same time regardless of where the fire has occurred in the home. Battery radio-interlinked alarms are ideal as they do not require any wiring and so are quick and easy to install.

An alarm with a long-life 10 year battery is also an important consideration for landlords. This type of alarm has a battery that lasts the full lifetime of the alarm and so will not require anyone to change the batteries. Longlife alarms are also tamper-proof and offer better value for money.

With around 60% of fires in the home starting in the kitchen, a heat alarm is also strongly recommended in or near the kitchen area. Heat alarms react to a sharp rise in heat rather than smoke or fumes and are not triggered by cooking fumes or someone burning the toast. This eliminates the annoyance of false alarms that can lead to tenants tampering with smoke alarms.

What CO alarms are required in rented homes?

In both private rental properties and in social housing, landlords should install a carbon monoxide alarm in any room where there is a fixed combustion appliance. This could include gas boilers, gas fires, log burners or open fires, or oil fuelled appliances. Currently, gas cookers are excluded from the regulations although as they are a recognised source of carbon monoxide, it is recommended to fit a co alarm in any room containing a gas cooker or hob.

Whilst there are no specifications for the type of CO alarm that should be installed, landlords should be mindful of poor quality alarms such as ‘black spot’ or ‘patch’ co alarms. It is highly recommended that any carbon monoxide alarm installed should adhere to the latest British Standards.

Who should maintain smoke and co alarms in rented properties?

Landlords should ensure that any smoke or carbon monoxide alarms in the rental property are in good working order at the start of a new tenancy. If an issue is reported with the alarm during the tenancy, it is the landlord’s responsibility to fix or replace the alarm ‘as soon as is reasonably practicable’.

Testing of all alarms are the responsibility of the tenant and should be carried out monthly. It is their responsibility to report any issues with the alarms to the landlord.

Fines of up to £5000 could be issued to landlords if these new regulations are breached.

Wales

The smoke and CO alarm regulations in Wales changed on 15^th July 2022. Coming into line with the English regulations, rented homes in Wales are now required to have a smoke alarm on every floor of the property. The Renting Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) (Wales) Regulations 2022 has gone a step further than the English regulations to stipulate that all smoke alarms must be hard-wired into the property and inter-linked either wirelessly or using a wired system.

Landlords are also required to fit a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fuel burning appliance. This differs from the regulations for England as it includes gas cookers.

The deadline for complying with the new smoke alarm regulations is 15^th July 2023 where there is already a tenancy in place. If a new tenancy begins before that date, smoke alarm regulations should be met before the new tenant moves into the property. The new Welsh carbon monoxide alarm regulations should be met immediately regardless of tenancy agreements.

Safelincs offers a full range of alarms suitable for the new Welsh regulations.

Northern Ireland

The smoke and CO alarm regulations come into force on 1st September 2024. The Smoke, Heat and Carbon Monoxide Alarms for Private Tenancies Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 state that rented homes in Northern Ireland are now required to have at least one smoke alarm on every floor of the property. At least one smoke alarm in the room which is most frequently used by occupants for general daytime living, however, a heat alarm maybe used in the case of open plan kitchen / living area or a frequently used open fireplace. At least one heat alarm in every kitchen. All alarms should be interlinked (either wirelessly or using a wired system) and both mains powered and sealed battery alarms are permitted.

A carbon monoxide alarm should be fitted in any room with a fixed combustion appliance, including rooms where a flue passses through.

Safelincs offers a full range of alarms suitable for the new Northern Irish regulations.

Scotland

New Scottish smoke and carbon monoxide regulations came into effect in February 2022. All homes in Scotland, including rental properties should now be fitted with interlinking smoke and heat alarms and carbon monoxide alarms.  The Scottish legislation stipulates the type of alarm that should be fitted and how many alarms are required.

Scottish smoke alarm requirements

Rental properties (and all other homes in Scotland) should have:

• One smoke alarm in the room most used in the daytime
• One smoke alarm in every circulation space on each storey (halls, landings etc)
• One heat alarm in the kitchen

All smoke alarms must be inter-linked either through a wired or wireless system. They must be mains powered or have a tamper-proof lifetime battery. All alarms should be ceiling mounted and regularly maintained and tested.

Scottish carbon monoxide alarm requirements

All homes with a carbon fuelled appliance or flue should have a carbon monoxide alarm installed. The carbon monoxide alarm does not have to be interlinked but should be either mains powered or have a lifetime battery.

It is the property owner’s responsibility to ensure that these regulations are being met. In the case of rented homes, this refers to landlords.

Safelincs have a full range of alarms suitable for Scottish regulations.

An overview of smoke alarm requirements for rental properties

FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions

(doc:755 V1.0). Our articles are reviewed regularly. However, any changes made to standards or legislation following the review date will not have been considered. Please note that we provide abridged, easy-to-understand guidance. To make detailed decisions about your fire safety provisions, you might require further advice or need to consult the full standards and legislation.