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.
Recent posts
What is a Mortgage Stress Test?
Yesterday
A mortgage ‘stress test’ revolves around predicting future ‘affordability’. It is seen by many borrowers as just another hurdle to overcome, but it’s important to understand why it was introduced and who it is meant to protect.
There are several scenarios for a landlord where standard buy-to-let lending isn’t enough for their investment. For more complex properties, ownership structures, or borrowing circumstances, a specialist buy-to-let mortgage may provide options that are not available through mainstream lenders.
Best UK Mortgage Rates this Week
7 days ago
Here are the lowest fixed mortgage rates of the week, available to first-time buyers, home movers, buy-to-let, and those remortgaging.
Call us for more information: 01628 507477 or email: team@mortgagerequired.com.
Leaseholders to be given extra protection
21 days ago
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has announced a new measure to protect leaseholders in England and Wales from high fees and poorly regulated property management companies.
New first-time buyer scheme announced by Burnham
23 days ago
Saturday 26th September, Andy Burnham announced a new equity loan scheme called “Your First Home”. The scheme, which will be confirmed at next month’s budget, is aimed at first-time buyers looking to purchase a new-build property from a developer signed up to the scheme.
What Happens to My Mortgage if I Lose My Job?
26 days ago
Losing your job or finding yourself ‘between jobs’ is, unsurprisingly, a stressful place to be. Keeping a cool head and taking action is important.
Flats 40% cheaper to buy than houses
18 Sep 2026
This price gap between the cost of houses and flats is the biggest it has ever been. Houses are now costing 1.7 times more than a flat, which is 0.4 times higher than 10 years ago
Take a look at our list of houses vs. flats per area.
Are mortgage rates set to increase?
9 Sep 2026
We have seen several lenders increase their mortgage rates over the last couple of weeks. This suggests mortgage rates are likely to rise.
Although nothing is set in stone, lender repricing, rising swap rates, and continued economic uncertainty suggest borrowers should prepare for higher mortgage costs.
More information
Trusted by
