Government mandates smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in rented homes

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The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) recently outlined new guidance for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in rented homes which is due to come into force on 1st October 2022.

Housing Minister Eddie Hughes MP has written to sector representatives with an update on new smoke and carbon monoxide alarm requirements (full letter below).

The new regulations have now been laid before parliament and if agreed, will take effect on 1 October 2022. The main effect of the new regulations is to amend the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Regulations 2015 (2015/1693). This will remove the exemption of social landlords, so that from October housing associations and local authority landlords will be subject to the 2015 regulations.

The regulations require that:

  • Registered providers of social housing must ensure at least one smoke alarm is provided on each storey of their homes where there is a room used as living accommodation. This has been a legal requirement in the private rented sector since 2015.
  • All landlords must ensure a carbon monoxide alarm is provided in any room used as living accommodation which contains a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers).
  • All landlords will be legally obligated to ensure smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are repaired or replaced once they are informed and the alarms are found to be faulty.

In cases where repair or replacement of an alarm is necessary, the obligation on landlords is to act ‘as soon as reasonably practical’ after being advised of the problem.

All landlords have time between when the amendment regulations became law on 27 June 2022 and when they come into force on 1 October 2022 when they must comply with the new requirements.   Further information and updates can be found on the DLUHC website.

As an NHC member, you can access smoke and carbon monoxide alarms through Consortium Procurement’s comprehensive TECS framework, which has typically saved members up to 13.4% compared to direct to supplier purchases.

Don’t hesitate to contact their Business Development team if you’re thinking about using a solution to facilitate compliance. They will be happy to discuss options with you. Email: solutions@consortiumprocurement.org.uk today.