Carbon monoxide alarms reduce the risk of illness or death in the event of a carbon monoxide leak. To ensure the highest levels of protection for building occupants, landlords must be aware of the current requirements as part of the Building Regulations and act accordingly. Here, we focus purely on the changes regarding carbon monoxide alarms as part of the overall Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022.

 

What are the regulations?

Since October 2015, landlords in England have been required to install carbon monoxide alarms in their residential rented accommodation where there is a solid fuel heating appliance fitted. In October 2022, the new regulations extended these requirements, and now all landlords must abide to the following key changes:

 

  • Carbon monoxide alarms are now mandatory in rooms with a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers) in both private and social rented homes

  • Landlords will be expected to repair or replace alarms once informed that they are faulty

  • Failure to comply can lead to a civil penalty being imposed of up to £5,000

 

What CO alarms should be installed?

The regulations do not stipulate the type of alarms that should be installed (such as mains or battery powered). Rather, landlords should make an informed decision and choose the type of carbon monoxide alarms based on the needs of their building and tenants, whilst ensuring that those alarms are compliant with British Standards EN 50291-1:2018.

 

 

 

 

Where should CO alarms be placed?

There is no specific guidance on where the alarms should be placed. Instead, landlords should follow the individual manufacturer’s instructions when installing the alarms and the guidance given in EN 50292:2023. To read our guide on CO alarm placement, click here.

 

What happens if CO alarms stop working?

The updated rules state that landlords or their agents must repair or replace any carbon monoxide alarms that tenants report as not functioning properly. This is a significant change for the private rental sector, as the responsibility for maintaining these alarms now falls on landlords or their agents once they are informed by tenants.

 

For new tenancies, the regulations require landlords or their representatives to check each alarm to ensure it is in proper working order on the first day of the tenancy. During the tenancy, tenants should replace batteries in alarms that are not working properly. If the alarm still does not function after the batteries have been replaced or if tenants cannot replace the batteries themselves, they should inform the landlord.

 

What happens if you are not compliant?

If landlords are made aware that they are not compliant with the regulations, they should undertake remedial action to install alarms as soon as possible. Where a landlord is in breach, the local housing authority may serve a remedial notice. Failure to comply with each remedial notice can lead to a fine of up to £5,000 per breach.

 

Which premises are affected?

These regulations apply to almost all residential premises in the private rented sector, as well as tenancies where the building is in mixed-use, such as a flat above a shop.

 

The following tenancies are excluded from the regulations:

  • Shared accommodation with a landlord or landlord’s family

  • Long leases

  • Student halls of residence

  • Hotels and refuges

  • Care homes

  • Hospitals and hospices

  • Low-cost ownership homes

  • Other accommodation relating to health care provision

 

 

 

How we can support you

Here at Kidde, we have a wide range of CO alarms that will help keep your properties and tenants safe, as well as a technical team to provide advice and guidance on the regulations and industry best practice. Email the team on [email protected] or call 03337 722 227.

 

If you would like to know more about the latest regulations in Scotland, read our blog here.