Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Private sector landlords are required to:
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Ensure at least one smoke alarm is installed on every storey of their properties where there is a room used as living accommodation. This has been a legal requirement in the private rented sector since 2015.
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Ensure a carbon monoxide alarm is installed in any room used as living accommodation which contains a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers).
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Ensure smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are repaired or replaced once informed and found that they are faulty.
These requirements are enforced by local authorities who can impose a fine of up to £5,000 where a landlord fails to comply with a remedial notice. Regulation 13 requires a local Housing Authority to prepare and publish a statement of principles which it proposes to follow in determining the amount of penalty charge.
There are some exceptions to this requirement including live in landlords and Housing Associations.
Please note that in some instances, such as where the local authority has assessed a Category 1 Hazard for Fire under the Housing Act 2004 , Housing Health and Safety Rating System and non- licensable HMO's, further works supplementary to battery alarms may be required. These could include mains wired smoke and heat alarms under BS5839 (as per LACORs Fire Safety Guide ).