From the 1st October 2015 regulations require smoke alarms to be installed in rented residential accommodation and carbon monoxide alarms in rooms with a solid fuel appliance.
There are various exemptions to this regulation set out as follows;
- A tenancy under which the occupier shares any accommodation with the landlord or a member of the landlord's family and shares an amenity such as kitchen or bathroom.
- A tenancy which is a long lease or which grants a right of occupation of the premises (for example, over 21 years).
- Student halls of residence.
- Hostels
- Care homes
- Hospitals
- Accommodation relating to health care provision
As a Landlord you are also required by law to ensure that there is a smoke detector installed on each floor of living accommodation. It is worth considering some form of hard wired system as battery driven alarms are susceptible to failure due to batteries running out or being removed by tenants.
The fine for not complying with this regulation is up to £5,000. This regulation applies to England only.
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