Smoke and CO2

New regulations around smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms will come into force on 1^st October this year. Since 2015, landlords have legally had to ensure at least one smoke alarm is fitted on each storey of their homes where there is a room used as living accommodation. They have also had to provide a carbon monoxide alarm where there is a solid fuel appliance, such as an open fire.

How are the regulations changing?
The 2022 regulations amend these duties to require carbon monoxide alarms where there is any gas appliance as well (NB. gas cookers are excluded). Although these regulations only come into effect later this year, at Finders Keepers we have felt that it is best practice to have a CO alarm where there is any fitted combustion appliance and since 2015 our Property Managers have required that that landlords provide them in our managed properties.

What are tenant’s responsibilities?
Landlords must ensure that these alarms are working on the first day of a new tenancy, and if the tenant then finds that their alarms are not working during the tenancy they are responsible for replacing the batteries. If the alarm still does not work after the batteries have been replaced, they should report this to their landlord (or agent) and, from October this year, the landlord will be legally obligated to ensure the faulty alarms are repaired or replaced.

What is the penalty?
All tenancies in place on 1 October 2022 must have a CO detector and alarm fitted by that date, and any landlord found to be in breach of these new regulations could be fined up to £5,000.

Published August 2022

If you would like to find out more about current regulations please contact marketing@finderskeepers.co.uk