Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are required in all rented properties throughout England, according to the results of a government consultation published on the 23rd November 2021.
On 1st October 2022, the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 will take effect.
What did the consultation propose?
During the consultation, it was proposed that the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 be amended, extending the existing private rented legislation to socially rented properties; it also considered the question of whether the current legislation was adequate.
The legislation also removed the word "solid" from the requirements for installing CO alarms.
The social housing white paper outlines several reforms, including these regulatory updates.
Requirements for Carbon Monoxide Alarms
In order to provide residents with greater protection, several amendments have been made to the requirements for CO alarms.
- All private and social landlords must install a CO alarm in any room of a property that contains a fuel burning appliance, such as gas boilers, fuel burning stoves, oil burners, biofuels, coal boilers/stoves, wood pellets etc. Cookers are excluded from this requirement.
- Although cookers are excluded from this legislation, the use of CO alarms in rooms with fuel burning cookers is still recommended within the British Standard, BS EN 50292, but there is no associated legal obligation.
- BS EN 50291-1 must be followed when installing a CO alarm.
- In order to comply with the requirements, landlords can use either battery-powered or mains-powered alarms.
- A property's existing Smoke alarms do not have to be interconnected with CO alarms, although landlords may choose to do so.
Requirements for Smoke Alarms
- There will now be a requirement for social landlords to install a smoke alarm on every floor of their properties, where there is a room used for living.
- Any smoke alarms installed must comply with BS EN 14604.
Testing and Maintenance
- In addition, landlords will be required to repair or replace alarms once they are notified of a malfunction.
- Before each new tenancy begins, landlords must make sure that all alarms are working properly.
- Residents will remain responsible for testing their alarms on a regular basis.
