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Landlords throughout the UK have an obligation to ensure that their properties are safe and in good repair. Perhaps the most important obligation for landlords is to ensure that properties are compliant with the latest fire safety guidance. Despite the number of fire fatalities having reduced significantly over the past decades, there are approximately 37,000 house fires and 200 fire related deaths each year in the UK.
Smoke and Fire Alarm Requirements for Landlords in England
In England, landlords must comply with the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015, which were introduced following a number of fatal fires in the private rental sector. The legislation requires that landlords:
- Have a working smoke alarm on each habitable floor within the property. For clarification, lofts and cellars are not classed as habitable unless they have been converted into accommodation.
- Have carbon monoxide detectors in any room with a solid fuel burning appliance, such as a coal fire or log burner.
Currently, the regulations do not specify that the alarms must meet a certain standard, so landlords can opt to rely on simple and affordable battery models. However, in the long run it can be worthwhile opting for more long-lasting alarms which may prove better value for money.
Landlords are Responsible for Maintaining Fire and Smoke Alarms in England
With regards to ongoing obligations, landlords must ensure that all alarms are in good working condition at the start of a tenancy. Whilst there are no prescribed forms to capture the adherence of these rules, it is recommended that landlords note down the time and date that each alarm is checked prior to a tenancy.
Landlords are also responsible for repairing and replacing alarms if a tenant informs them that they are faulty. As faulty fire alarms can be detrimental to the safety of tenants, it is important to rectify the issues as quickly as possible. That being said, it remains the tenant’s responsibility to test the alarms on a regular basis and replace their batteries in cases where the alarms are not mains connected.
Smoke and Fire Alarm Requirements for Landlords in Wales
Currently landlords in Wales must follow similar requirements to their counterparts in England. It is the responsibility of landlords to ensure that:
- There is at least one smoke alarm on each floor of the property (if the landlords is licensed under Rent Smart Wales).
- All alarms are in good working order at the start of each tenancy.
- That a carbon monoxide detector is fitted in every room that contains a solid-fuel burning appliance.
However, this guidance will be updated on the 15th of July 2022, when the Renting Homes Act (Wales) 2016 is implemented. The act will introduce a wholesale shakeup of the private rental sector in Wales, including in areas such as fire safety. The new Fitness of Homes for Human Habitation (FFHH) standard requires smoke alarms to be installed on every storey of a dwelling, connected to the electrical supply and inter-linked with all other smoke alarms.
Positioning Fire Alarms in Welsh Rental Properties
It is recommended that smoke alarms should be positioned where they can be heard by the occupier when asleep, so usually a hall and landing area. Guidance accompanying the act suggests that, depending on the size of the property, landlords may consider it appropriate to ensure the presence of more than one smoke alarm on each storey. It goes on to say that it may be appropriate to fit an additional heat alarm in the kitchen area.
Landlord Obligations to Maintain Fire and Smoke Alarms in Wales
To comply with the new act, landlords must ensure that all alarms are in good repair and proper working order. A professional should be instructed to test the system and produce a fire detection and alarm system inspection and servicing report. This report will state when the next inspection and service should take place, dependent upon the risk assessment and type of system installed.
Once the act is implemented on the 15th of July 2022, landlords will have up until the 15th of July 2023 to comply with the new guidance for all ongoing tenancies. Any new tenancies which begin on or after the implementation date must comply with the new legislation.
Fire and Smoke Alarm Requirements for Landlords in Scotland
As of February 2022, all Scottish homes (owned or rented) must have interlinked smoke and heat alarms installed. The legislation requires that all homes must have:
- One smoke alarm in ‘every circulation space’ on each floor or level. Simply an alarm is required in each hallway or landing across every floor of the property.
- One smoke alarm in the room most used for general daytime living purposes.
- One heat alarm installed in every kitchen space.
- One carbon monoxide alarm installed in every room with a carbon-fuelled appliance. Appliances could be boilers, fires, stoves or heaters.
Smoke Alarms Should be Interlinked in Scottish Rental Properties
What is more, every smoke alarm should be ceiling mounted and interlinked. They can be connected by either a hard-wired interlink (an interconnecting cable which runs between every alarm in the system) or through a wireless radio connection (not Wifi). The legislation means that any smoke alarms which are not interlinked are not compliant. Although it is not legally required that carbon monoxide alarms are interlinked with the system, it is recommended that they are.
Alarms powered by replaceable batteries, such as your typical AA battery are no longer deemed to be compliant. All alarms must either be mains-powered or have a sealed long-life lithium battery.
Safety Standards for Fire and Smoke Alarms in Scottish Rental Properties
Landlords must ensure that all alarms comply with the following standards:
- Smoke Alarms: BS EN14604:2005
- Heat Alarms: BS EN14604:2005
- Carbon Monoxide Detectors: BS EN14604:2005
Thankfully for landlords, there are a range of new alarms on the market which can be self-installed, such as ones like the Aico Ei650RF RadioLINK+ Battery Optical Alarm, which can be purchased online or in stores. The Scottish government estimates that the cost for an average three-bedroom house, which requires three smoke alarms, one heat alarm and one carbon monoxide detector will be around £220. This cost is based on the alarms you can install yourself without the help of an electrician.
Smoke and Fire Alarm Requirements for Landlords in Northern Ireland
Carbon monoxide alarms are a mandatory requirement for all homes where a new fossil fuel appliance is installed in Northern Ireland, after a change to The Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 came into operation on 31 October 2012.
The NIDirect website recommends that landlords take measures to fit a smoke alarm and check that it is in working order regularly.
