Legislation Change Regarding Carbon Monoxide Alarms
As you know the legislation around the Lettings industry is always evolving, as such we wanted to update you on an amendment to the regulations surrounding smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
This update does not affect you if you only have properties that are ALL-ELECTRIC. If you are such a landlord, you do not need to read any further.
The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide (Amendment) Regulations 2022 will become law on the 1st October 2022 in England. There are 2 key changes that you need to be aware of:-
- Previously, carbon monoxide alarms were only required where a tenant had the ability to burn ‘solid fuel’. Going forward, carbon monoxide detectors will be required in any room where there is a ‘fixed combustion appliance’. In simple terms, this means that oil and gas fired boilers will be caught by the new rules as will built in gas fires. However, a gas cooker or hob is expressly excluded from the definition of ‘a fixed combustion appliance’ as indeed are portable appliances.
- As you know we have ensured all properties have a smoke alarm on every floor, this is now a requirement for even pre 2015 tenancies, in the social as well as private sector. However in addition to this, if a tenant raises complaints that an alarm is not working properly, despite changing batteries, the landlord will be under a statutory obligation to sort out the problem ‘as soon as reasonably practicable’, as such we will need to send someone to resolve any issues on your behalf if they arise.
Whilst this regulation is proceeding to parliamentary approval, it is clear there will be fines of up to £5000 for non-compliance after the 1st October.
All new tenancies, and tenancies where the fixed tenancy period expires, on or after the 1st October 2022, where the property has a fixed gas or oil appliance, will require a carbon monoxide monitor to be fitted. We are actively trying to establish which properties fall into this category, and as such have determined that at some stage, in the near future, you will be affected by this change in legislation.
To assist our landlords in meeting the new legislation, and to help make this transition as convenient for you as possible, we have secured a special rate on Carbon Monoxide Detectors and are offering to have these fitted for you, in time for the 1st October 2022, at a cost of £30.
There is no need for you to do anything, this will happen automatically for you.