Smoke and CO2 Alarm Maintenance: New Regulations from 1 October
Posted by Strettons on 24th June 2022 -
From 1 October 2022, landlords will be responsible for maintaining smoke and CO2 alarms
Key takeaways of the new regulation
- All rented properties in England must provide a CO2 alarm in rooms where there is any fixed combustion application from 1 October 2022
- All private and social housing landlords must ensure a smoke alarm is fitted on every floor of their property
- Once an alarm is reported not working, it must be repaired or replaced by the landlord as soon as possible
- Install and repair existing alarms soon to avoid breaching new regulations
More details
The Draft Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 was laid before Parliament on 11 May 2022. Once approved, it will come into force on 1 October 2022.
Previous regulations stated that all properties must have a smoke alarm and CO2 alarm (if gas) at the start of the tenancy. It has been the landlord's responsibility to check they are working prior to the new tenancy, leaving the tenant responsible for maintaining them, but this is about to change.
New regulations state all rented properties in England must provide a carbon monoxide alarm in rooms where there is any fixed combustion application, such as gas boilers, from 1 October 2022.
Previously this requirement only applied to solid fuel combustion appliances, such as wood burners. However, they have now been extended to gas cookers.
Under the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022, all private and social housing landlords must ensure a smoke alarm is fitted on every floor of their property where there is a room used wholly or partly as living accommodation.
From 1 October, when a tenant, or tenant's nominated representative, finds and reports that an alarm may not work properly, the alarm must be repaired or replaced by the landlord as soon as possible.
The regulations only oblige landlords to check the alarms are working on the first day of a new tenancy. Alarms should be tested before a tenancy begins to avoid any impact.
Landlords are advised to begin installing and repairing existing alarms to avoid breaching new regulations.
Please let us know if you have any questions or how we can help during this transition.
Strettons
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