CO Advice
If you live in a privately rented property in England, your landlord will have been given notice about changes to the law regarding smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your home.
As of 1st October 2022, all private landlords must now comply with the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 which, replaces the previous regulation.
If a landlord fails to comply with the updated regulations, the local authority can impose a fine of up to £5,000.
The law surrounding fire and CO safety has changed considerably in the last few years to maximise safety for renters, both private and social.
Your landlord should be considering the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 alongside other relevant laws on fire and carbon monoxide safety in rented homes, such as the Fire Safety Act 2021 and the Building Safety Act 2022.
Below, we have answered frequently asked questions regarding the changes to your home’s smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
The amended regulations do not state the exact type of alarm that should be installed, or whether it needs to be mains-powered or battery powered.
We advise landlords to choose and install a CO alarm based on the needs of their building and tenants. Alarms should be compliant with British Standard 50291 and if selecting battery powered alarms, ‘sealed for life’ batteries are the preferred option.
The regulations do not stipulate where the alarms should be placed. However best practice advice is a CO alarm should be installed in every room which is used as a living accommodation containing a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers).
We advise carbon monoxide alarms to be positioned at head height, either on a wall or shelf, approximately 1-3 metres away from a potential source of carbon monoxide. Always follow the individual manufacturer’s instructions when installing the alarms.
The amended regulations do not state the exact type of alarm that should be installed, or whether it needs to be mains-powered or battery powered.
We advise landlords to choose a smoke alarm based on the needs of their building and tenants and should be compliant with British Standard 5839-6. If selecting battery powered alarms, ‘sealed for life’ batteries are the preferred option.
Although the regulations do not stipulate where smoke alarms should be placed, we advise at least one smoke alarm should be installed on every storey which is used as living accommodation.
Smoke alarms should be fixed to the ceiling in a circulation space, such as a hall or a landing. Always follow the individual manufacturer’s instructions when installing the alarms.
Heat alarms are not a replacement for smoke alarms but should be used in kitchens and rooms where there is high levels of fumes or dust.
Testing of smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms should be straightforward and should be carried out by tenants. You can ask your landlords for instructions on how to test your property’s alarms, including how often to test.
Landlords will be responsible for repairing or replacing faulty alarms. However, tenants should replace alarm batteries where possible. If you are unable to replace the batteries, report this to your landlord.
Selected tenancies are excluded from the amended regulations, this includes:
Find out further details about the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 here, or read up on the dangers of carbon monoxide and the symptoms to be aware of.
*Please note: The above summary is based on FireAngel’s interpretation of the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022, always refer to the standard for specific guidance
