Amendment to the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulation
The current regulation states that landlords must have one smoke alarm fitted per storey and a carbon monoxide alarm where there is a solid fuel appliance, such as an open fire. From the 1st of October 2022 an amendment to this regulation will come into force.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN IF YOU ARE A LANDLORD?
Any room used as living accommodation containing a fixed combustion appliance must have a carbon monoxide alarm. This now extends to include for example gas and oil-fired boilers, but does not include gas boilers.
Any non-working smoke or carbon monoxide alarms must be repaired or replaced as “soon as practically possible” after a tenant notifies the landlord.
WHO DOES THIS APPLY TO?
The amendment applies to England only and includes all tenancies currently in place including both private and social landlords.
The regulations apply to unlicensed HMOs. Licensed HMOs are exempt from Parts 1 to 5 of the regulations but only because the regulations also amend the HMO licensing obligations in the Housing Act 2004 so as to impose similar requirements.