The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 (as amended by ‘The Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022) came into force on 1 October 2015.
This means that every private rented sector landlord has to:
- Provide at least one smoke alarm on every storey of their rented property which is used as living accommodation and if there are separate premises on each storey of the building, that smoke alarms must be installed within each individual premise (i.e., every occupied flat).
- Install a Carbon Monoxide alarm in any room used as living accommodation and contains a fixed combustion appliance other than a cooker
- Ensure the alarms are in working order at the start of each new tenancy.
- Repair or replace a faulty Smoke or Carbon Monoxide Alarm when a tenant reports that an alarm may not be in proper working order, and the alarm is found not to be in proper working order.
The Housing Standards Team are enforcing the Regulations. If you wish to contact the team please send an email or call 0345 140 0845.
Please see the Council’s Statement of Principles which it will follow in determining the amount of penalty charge for breach of the duty.
More on smoke alarms
Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service can, if appropriate, offer a not for profit service to carry out a Home Fire Safety Check (HFSC) and provide smoke alarms at domestic properties to help reduce the risk of having a fire and to assist occupants to stay safe if one occurs. The visit covers useful fire safety advice and the importance of having working smoke alarms installed on each level of the home and making sure everyone knows how to escape if a fire were to start. Requesting a visit can be particularly important in the case of an elderly or vulnerable friend or relative, or someone who may have mobility issues or sensory impairment.
You can phone 0800 731 5958 or email fireservicedirect@merseyfire.gov.uk for free fire safety advice or to request a Home Fire Safety Check visit, where free fire safety advice will be given, including the importance of having working smoke alarms on each level of your home and making sure everyone knows how to escape if a fire were to start.
The Department for Communities and Local Government have produced a useful questions and answers booklet on the Regulations for landlords and tenants available as a pdf document.