HARRIS LAMB WARNS RESIDENTIAL LANDLORDS OF NEW CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR LEGISLATION
Property management specialists at Harris Lamb are advising landlords across the UK of new legislation that will come into force from next month regarding Carbon Monoxide detectors.
From October 1st, all rental properties in England and Wales will see new regulations – The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 – come into effect, which decree that all rented properties must provide a carbon monoxide alarm in every room where there is any type of fixed combustion appliances.
James Van Nijkerk, Residential Property Manager at Harris Lamb, said; “I fully support the new amended regulations for carbon monoxide requirements for residential rental properties. Previously, they only applied to solid fuel appliances, such wood and coal burners. This has now been extended to gas cookers and boilers, which will require many landlords to install additional detectors in each property they let.
“The legislation reiterates that smoke alarms must be fitted on every habitable floor of a rented property. It is now also part of the Landlords responsibility to ensure that all alarms are in good working order prior to a tenant moving into the property and if tenant reports that an alarm maybe faulty during their tenancy, the alarm must be repaired or replaced as soon as reasonably practicable, the alarms do have a life span of 7 to 10 years dependant on the make” he said.
He said: “We have requested that all our Gas Engineers test alarms during a necessary landlords’ gas safety certificate check and will make a note of their working condition. The regulations do apply to existing tenancies as well as new ones, so it is vital that landlords ensure all properties with tenancies have carbon monoxide alarms present before October 1st to avoid falling foul of the legislation and being subject to action.”
While Wales has specific detail on what type of alarms should be fitted in residential properties, England has not issued such guidance. However, James said it would be advisable be to follow Wales’ specification to ensure future compliance by fitting fixed smoke alarms with 10-year batteries that comply with a BS EN 50291 Kitemarked Carbon Monoxide alarm.
For further information or for support with residential lettings, contact James on james.Van-nijkerk@harrislamb.com.