Guidance for Landlords and Tenants Issued

If you are landlord in Preston, Chorley, Leyland or Blackburn you need to know this!

Guidance from the government has now been issued to support landlords, agents and tenants to prepare for the changes that come into force on 1^st October 2022.

The Guidance for Landlords and Tenants booklet has been issued by the Department of Levelling up, Housing and Communities and is intended as a general guide not an authoritative interpretation on the law.  The booklet provides information about the requirements for both smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, who they apply to and how they will be enforced.  It has been designed as a Q&A to cover the most common situations but it is not intended to cover every scenario.

Amended Regulations

The new regulations contain small but significant changes, for landlords and their agents working in the private rented sector, of which we have been aware of for some time now.

The changes to the regulations mean:

• All landlords must ensure a carbon monoxide alarm is provided in any room used as living accommodation which contains a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers). 
• All landlords will be legally obligated to ensure smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are repaired or replaced once they are informed and the alarms are found to be faulty. 

Landlords should ensure they fully understand the new regulations and begin the installation of any new alarms required, plus any repairs, as soon as possible in order that they are compliant before 1^st October 2022.  There will be no transitional period after this date and the requirements will be enforced by local authorities who can impose a fine of up to £5,000 where a landlord fails to comply.

What do landlords need to do now?

Every landlord, or their agent, will need to asses each property as to whether a carbon monoxide alarm must be installed.  A carbon monoxide alarm should be installed in every room which is used as living accommodation containing a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers). 

Landlords should follow the individual manufacturer’s instructions when installing the alarms. However, in general, carbon monoxide alarms should be positioned at head height, either on a wall or shelf, approximately 1-3 metres away from a potential source of carbon monoxide.

Where smoke and carbon monoxide alarms already exist these should be tested to be in working order. Should they be found to be faulty then these should be repaired or replaced.

What is a fixed combustion appliance?

This means a fixed apparatus where fuel of any type is burned to generate heat. Typically, these appliances are powered by gas, oil, coal, wood, etc., for example, gas or oil boilers, or log-burning stoves.

Note:  Heat detectors are not  replacement for smoke alarms.

View the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 Guidance