Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 came into force on 1 October 2015. These require that:

• There is a smoke alarm on each storey of rented homes where there is a bedroom or living room.
  
• There is a carbon monoxide alarm in any living room containing a solid fuel-burning appliance
• Every alarm is in working order on the day that a new tenancy begins.

We have to make sure that these are provided. If a landlord doesn't do so we will serve a remedial notice, and if the landlord fails to comply with this notice then we will install the detectors and then impose a financial penalty.

Penalties

• £1,250 for the first occasion that a landlord fails to comply with a remedial action notice but does pay within 28 days of the service of a penalty charge notice
• £2,500 for the first occasion that a landlord fails to comply with a remedial action notice but does not pay within 28 days of the service of a penalty charge notice
• £5,000 for each subsequent breach to comply with a remedial notice

If you are a tenant and your landlord or agent has not installed these or they are not working, please contact us. If you are a landlord and would like some advice on smoke alarms, please contact us.

We have to publish a 'Statement of Principles' that we apply when deciding how much the penalty charges are. Download the Statement of Principles.