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The Draft Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 was laid before Parliament on 11th May 2022. Once approved, it will come into force on 1st October 2022.

Previous regulations stated that all properties must have a smoke alarm and CO2 alarm (if gas) at the start of the tenancy. It has been the landlord's responsibility to check they are working prior to the new tenancy, leaving the tenant responsible for maintaining them, but this is about to change.

New regulations state all rented properties in England must provide a carbon monoxide alarm in rooms where there is any fixed combustion application, such as gas boilers, from 1st October 2022.

Previously this requirement only applied to solid fuel combustion appliances, such as wood burners. However, they have now been extended to gas cookers.

Under the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022, all private and social housing landlords must ensure a smoke alarm is fitted on every floor of their property where there is a room used wholly or partly as living accommodation.

From 1st October, when a tenant, or tenant's nominated representative, finds and reports that an alarm may not work properly, the alarm must be repaired or replaced by the landlord as soon as possible.

The regulations only oblige landlords to check the alarms are working on the first day of a new tenancy. Alarms should be tested before a tenancy begins to avoid any impact.

Landlords are advised to begin installing and repairing existing alarms to avoid breaching new regulations.

Please let us know if you have any questions or how we can help during this transition.