The installation of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in all rental properties, both private and social, is to be made compulsory.
Communities minister Penny Mordaunt announced the move at the Local Government Association annual fire conference yesterday, following years of campaigning, led by the Chief Fire Officers Association and supported by the British Property Federation.
The BPF said the crackdown was necessary to force the small number of landlords who did not install alarms in their properties to bring them up to standard. The English Housing Survey estimated in 2013 that 82% of private rented homes had smoke alarms fitted.
The BPF said that making the installation of carbon monoxide and smoke alarms compulsory will provide clarity to landlords.
It recommends that the obligation on landlords and their agents should be to ensure that there are working detectors at the time the tenancy starts. There should be an obligation on tenants, however, to maintain and test the alarms and to report any faults.
Ian Fletcher, director of policy at the BPF, said: “It is quick, cheap and easy to install these pieces of equipment, so making them mandatory makes sense.”
The measure is likely to take effect this October.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/tenants-safer-under-new-government-measures
A last a sensible bit of policy. We have been fitting these for years and only a very few landlords refuse, now they can’t. Smoke alarms and Carbon monoxide detectors save lives it’s as simple as that.
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how long has it taken the govt to agree to this? years. It was really a no brainer and dont know of any real objections to this legislation which has been long over due. Whereas other legislation will come into force which has not had the benefit of 2 brain cells rubbing together – agents fee ban.
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I totally agree that it is a good idea to legislate the VERY FEW landlords who don’t provide these to finally do so, but lets see the detail and hope that the bonkers bureaucrats don’t insist on mains wired alarms (as opposed to battery operated) to be installed.
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All very well, but every time i visit one of my properties I find the tenants have removed or do not renew batteries! Why or Why must I be responsible for every idiot out there? I provide alarms and always have. One tenant complained because she could not disable a mains powered alarm. It is time that people take responsibility for their own actions and stop blaming everyone else for their own shortcomings.
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These circumstances should be covered in the terms your tenancy agreement. If tenant vandalises his problem his cost….take it out of deposit
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“All very well, but every time i visit one of my properties I find the tenants have removed or do not renew batteries! Why or Why must I be responsible for every idiot out there?”
You shouldn’t – simple as. The gist of the regulation appears to be “…the obligation on landlords and their agents should be to ensure that there are working detectors at the time the tenancy starts. There should be an obligation on tenants, however, to maintain and test the alarms and to report any faults.”
Sounds fair enough, doesn’t it?
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In Scotland it is already a legal requirement to provide an interlinked, hard wired smoke alarm in each landing and living room, a heat detector in kitchen and CO2 in every room with a gas appliance. With effect from 1st December 2015 all properties will require an electrical certificate renewable every five years along with PAT testing of ALL electrical appliances. Just to encourage Landlords many local authorities will deem this work as alterations and require a building regulation application. Fee £100 or £150 if submitted retrospectively which of course will require a plan etc etc.
Add this to risk assessment of common footpaths, gardens and sheds, Gas Safety and Legionnaires Disease….almost forgot checking immigration status and tax collection for HMRC….why would you be a Landlord??
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the headline is misleading, not every property MUST have a CO alarm fitted, only those with solid fuel appliances will require a CO alarm after October 10th, the new legislation doesn’t take account of gas appliances.
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