Lettings Regulations: September 2022 Update

From 1^st October 2022, new lettings regulations will be coming into place for carbon monoxide and smoke alarms. Here is Centrick’s guide to the new regulations that landlords and tenants should be aware of when it comes to the safety of their properties:

What are the lettings regulations being implemented in England on 1^st October 2022?

Carbon monoxide alarms must be placed within every room that houses a fixed combustion appliance, such as gas and oil-fired boilers. For the first time, these new regulations will also apply to social housing schemes.

For smoke alarms, one must be placed on each floor.

It is recommended that each homeowner keeps a log of the dates smoke and carbon monoxide alarms were checked. Gas safety inspectors and EICR contractors should be able to verify that your alarms are in working condition.

What are the exemptions?

Gas cookers do not require a carbon monoxide alarm. You will also not require any alarms in a property that uses solely electric heating.

What kind of alarm should I fit?

The new laws and regulations do not specify whether your carbon monoxide or smoke alarms must be wired in or battery operated, so either option is suitable.

Where should I install my alarms?

Any carbon monoxide alarm should be located between one and three meters away from a potential hazard source, such as a gas fired boiler. They are generally affixed at head height on a shelf or wall.

Smoke alarms should be affixed to the ceiling of the room and in a place of circulation, such as a hallway.

What happens if I don’t abide by these lettings regulations?

You could be fined £5,000 if you do not meet these new standards, or fail to replace any faulty carbon monoxide alarms.

Are lettings regulations different in other countries?

Yes – Scottish law indicates that a smoke alarm should be placed in the most frequently used room of the house, usually the living room, as well as on each hallway or landing. Heat alarms should be implemented in the property’s kitchen, and carbon monoxide alarms should be placed in each room with a carbon-fuelled appliance.

In Wales, carbon monoxide alarms should be used where oil-fired combustion appliances, gas appliances and fuel-burning appliances are used.

In Northern Ireland, carbon monoxide alarms are required in properties that have fossil fuel appliances that burn kerosene, gas, oil, wood or charcoal. Legally, smoke alarms are only required in Northern Ireland HMO properties, however it is always recommended to have one in every household, on each floor.

In Wales and Scotland, fire alarms should be interconnected so that if one goes off, all others within the property should too.

Want to know more about the new lettings regulations?

For more information, visit the government’s website page for Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 or contact your local Centrick lettings specialist for more tailored advice on how to ensure your property is compliant with the new laws.