Landlords Corner – New legislation

Landlords Corner – New legislation

Updated smoke and carbon monoxide alarm regulations have been passed and come into force on the 1 October. Make sure you are compliant.

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015
It has been a legal requirement since 1 October 2015, for all tenancies in England to have a smoke alarm on every floor that is used wholly or partly as living space. It was also a requirement to have a carbon monoxide alarm in any room that had a solid fuel burning appliance. A landlord is required to ensure they are working the day the tenant is entitled to occupy the property.

New Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022
From 1 October 2022, a landlord must now also ensure there is a carbon monoxide alarm in every room that has a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers). The guidance describes a gas cooker as any apparatus that is heated by gas and is used for cooking food. If a tenant reports an alarm as not working, a landlord can request the tenant change the batteries, however, it would be a landlord’s responsibility to repair or replace a faulty alarm. A carbon monoxide alarm should be placed close to the potential source of carbon monoxide.

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