What Could Change With the Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Alarm Regulations For Landlords

The government is consulting on its carbon monoxide and smoke alarm regulations for the rental sector in England. Although it is focused mainly on social housing, there are also potential law changes that affect private landlords too.

They are currently looking for views and opinions on a number of suggestions from stakeholders including landlords and letting agents. Keep reading to find out what could change in the domestic smoke alarm regulations, as well as for carbon monoxide alarms, and how you can give your opinion on the current and suggested laws.

Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Alarm Regulations Background

The current legislation surrounding this area is the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015. In January 2019, the government completed a review of the carbon monoxide alarm requirements and then released a white paper in November 2020 on keeping social housing residents safe.

Taking into account all of this information, they launched the consultation with a view to creating a level playing field between both private and social renting sectors.

Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Alarm Regulations - The Proposals

● Carbon monoxide alarms should be mandatory in all rooms that are used as living space and which contain a fixed combustion appliance. This could be a boiler or water heater. However, gas cookers are exempt.

● Landlords in both sectors must fit carbon monoxide alarms alongside any new installation of a fixed combustible appliance other than a gas cooker.

● Landlords from both the private and social sectors must check the proper working order of all alarms on the first day of a tenancy, repairing or replacing if not.

● Landlords in both sectors must fix or replace faulty alarms when reported to them during the tenancy. There is no suggested law to require landlords to check them regularly, but it would make sense to do so or to ask the tenant to do so.

● If a tenant tests their alarm and it doesn’t work, they should replace or test the batteries. If it still doesn’t work, or it is a mains powered model and is faulty, they should inform the landlord or letting agent who should arrange repair or replacement.

● Government is asking whether the current rules for where you should place an alarm are still relevant and fit for purpose.

● Another query is whether the guidelines on the type of carbon monoxide alarm you should fit is still fit for purpose.

Read the consultation on the carbon monoxide and smoke alarm regulations for landlords here. You can also have your say through the same link before the 11th January 2021.

Property Management Service

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