New Legislation October 2022: Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms Mandatory
Everyone knows the importance of smoke alarms in homes, but people may be less ware of the need to have a carbon monoxide alarm. In 2020 116 people died from the toxic effects of carbon monoxide poisoning, and an estimated 4,000 people attended A&E for treatment.
What was the law around carbon monoxide alarms?
All private landlords were required to have fitted, working, and tested smoke detectors on all floors and a carbon monoxide detector where solid fuels are used. All alarms should be tested on the day the tenant moved in.
As well as this, landlords must have a valid Gas Safety Certificate and EPC for their property.
Without these conditions being met, landlords put themselves at risk of an up to £5,000 fine, being in violation of the law, and being unable to serve a section 21 notice.
What are the new laws about carbon monoxide alarms?
The new rules, from October 1st 2022, will now require social landlords to have a smoke alarm on every floor and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance.
Tenants are still responsible for testing alarms during their tenancy, but the responsibility of replacing them falls to the landlords.
Owner occupier carbon monoxide alarms
While these laws only apply to private and social landlords, we highly recommend that people have carbon monoxide alarms in their owner occupied homes.
Carbon monoxide alarms should be placed anywhere you have fixed combustion appliances like electric fires, boilers, and gas cookers.