As expected, the government is toughening the requirements for carbon monoxide detectors in all rented properties in England. They are also levelling the playing field between private and social landlords. These changes are slated to come in, in October this year.
Until now, private landlords have had to fit one battery operated smoke alarm per floor and a carbon monoxide alarm in an appropriate location only where there is a solid fuel appliance such as a wood burning stove or open fire. Social housing providers have been previously exempt from fitting carbon monoxide detectors, under legislation from 2015 (although in effect, most insist upon them in all their properties).
From October, every property in England will have to have a functioning CO detector where there is a source of fuel burnt for heating the property or heating water – including gas and oil boilers. Those properties with electric heating and those which only use gas for cooking are excluded.
CO detectors will also have to be repaired or replaced by the landlord ‘as soon as reasonably practicable’ after a tenant has reported a fault. It is not clear currently whether this will extend to the replacement of detector batteries, but since most modern detectors either have an integral battery or are hard wired, this amounts to the same thing.
The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is urging all private landlords not compliant with the new regulations, to begin installation and/or testing and repair of these alarms immediately, as they risk being fined for breaching the rules as soon as they come into force.
In addition to this we would advise all landlords and agents to encourage tenants to regularly test their detectors and certainly include a test in their own regular inspections of their properties.
