New changes to carbon monoxide alarms from Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022, England

Your landlord in England will be aware of recent legislation mandating the installation of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in all privately rented properties in the country.

On October 1, 2022, the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations will officially become law. All applicable landlords as of that date must do the following:

Make sure any room in your home that has a permanent combustion appliance also has a carbon monoxide alarm (excluding gas cookers).
If a landlord does not comply with a remedial notice, the local government can punish them by up to 5,000 pounds.

Exactly what specifications must a carbon monoxide detector have?


There is no rule about whether the carbon monoxide alarm needs to be powered by a battery or the power supply (hard wired).


Landlords should install carbon monoxide alarms that comply with British Standards BS 50291 after carefully considering the demands of their building and its tenants. If an alarm is going to run off of batteries, it's best to go with one that doesn't require frequent battery replacement, such as one that has a "sealed for life" battery.

Notes: The British Standard for carbon monoxide detectors is EN 50291-1:2018 (for home), not EN 50291-1:2010.

 

Where should carbon monoxide alarms be installed?


The regulations do not specify the location of the alarms.


Carbon monoxide alarms should be fitted in any room holding a fixed combustion equipment that is utilized as living space (excluding gas cookers). When installing the alarms, landlords must adhere to the specific manufacturer's guidelines. However, carbon monoxide alarms should be installed at head height, either on a wall or a shelf, roughly 1 to 3 meters from a potential carbon monoxide source.

 

Does replacing a battery count as a repair? Who is responsible for changing the batteries?

 

The landlord is responsible for fixing or replacing any malfunctioning alarms.

If renters discover that their alarms are not functioning properly throughout their rental, they may replace the batteries.

 

If the alarm continues to be inoperable after replacing the batteries, or if the renter is unable to change the batteries themselves, the tenant should notify the landlord.

 

Notes: A "sealed for life" battery-powered carbon monoxide detector will increase landlord and tenant continence. Currently, a sealed battery product with a 10-year lifespan is more recommended on the market. 

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