Smoke Alarm Regulations
Smoke alarm regulations set out the legal minimum for fire detection in rented homes. In most private rented properties in England, landlords must install at least one smoke alarm on every storey used as living accommodation, and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance such as a gas boiler or solid-fuel fire. Alarms must be tested and working on the day the tenancy starts.
During the tenancy, tenants are usually responsible for testing alarms regularly, for example, monthly and replacing batteries where these are removable. If an alarm is not working after a battery change, or if it is a sealed unit, the landlord must repair or replace it within a reasonable time once notified.
Local authorities can enforce the rules and may serve remedial notices or impose civil penalties if a landlord fails to comply.
Tenants should never remove or disable smoke alarms, even if they are beeping, and should report faults in writing. A lack of required alarms can support complaints to the council or ombudsman, and may be relevant in disrepair or safety claims.
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