Updates to The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 – make sure you are compliant!
Requirements….From October last year (2015) Private Sector Landlords must have at least one smoke alarm installed on every storey of their properties and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room containing a solid fuel burning appliance (wood fire, coal burning stove) On each new tenancy agreement the landlord must ensure that each alarm is in full working order. The fine for not adhering to these regulations could be up to £5,000 and will be enforced by local authorities. Please note there are a few exceptions to the legislation whereby some landlords are exempt; see below:
– Landlords sharing accommodation with their tenants
– Landlords granting a right of occupation for a term of 7 years or more
– Landlords who are registered providers of social housing
Responsibility……It is the responsibility of the tenant, after the landlords test on the first day of the tenancy, to take responsibility for their own safety and test all smoke/carbon monoxide alarms regularly to make sure they are in working order. Monthly testing is recommended. If the alarms are found to not be working order the tenant should arrange the replacement of the batteries or the alarm itself with the relevant landlord.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm tips.
For Smoke Alarms:
– Avoid placing alarms within 30cm of light fittings or obstructions on the ceiling
– Make sure the alarms are audible from any bedrooms.
– To avoid the ‘dead air’ zone site smoke alarms at least 30cm from any walls.
– Ensure the alarm is audible from all bedrooms
For Carbon Monoxide alarms:
– Site your alarms more than 2 metres, and ideally less than 4 metres away from any appliances.
– The detector should be 1.5m from the ground if being wall mounted
– Avoid placing near doors and windows
– Ensure the alarm is audible from all bedrooms
Carbon Monoxide awareness has greatly increased during the past year and the changes to the legislation is part of wider project to improve awareness throughout the UK. There is currently an imbalance between the protection levels for private tenants and the rest of the housing sector.
