Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are one of the cheapest safety measures in a rented home — and one of the easiest to get wrong. The rules changed in October 2022, and plenty of landlords still work to the old version. This guide covers the law in England as it stands in October 2026.
⚖️ The Law in England
The rules come from the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015, as amended in 2022. They apply to private landlords and, since 1 October 2022, to social landlords too.
| You must | Details |
|---|---|
| Smoke alarm on every storey | On each floor that has a room used wholly or partly as living accommodation — bathrooms and hallways count. |
| CO alarm by fixed combustion appliances | In any room used as living accommodation that has a fixed appliance burning gas, oil or solid fuel. Gas cookers are excluded. |
| Check on day one | Every alarm must be in working order on the day a new tenancy or licence starts. |
| Repair when told | Once a tenant reports a faulty alarm, repair or replace it promptly. |
What counts as a fixed combustion appliance? Gas and oil boilers, gas fires, wood burners, open fires and multi-fuel stoves. A gas cooker doesn’t need a CO alarm under the regulations, though fitting one is still sensible.
Boiler in a cupboard or loft? Think about where the gas could reach people — usually the room the cupboard opens into. Many councils expect an alarm there, so fit one nearby rather than rely on the cupboard counting as “not a room”.
📋 Who the Rules Don’t Cover
The regulations don’t apply to lodgers who share with the landlord or their family, long leases, student halls, hostels and refuges, care homes, hospitals and hospices, and low-cost home ownership. HMOs are covered, and usually need more than single alarms — see HMO fire alarm requirements.
💷 What Happens If You Don’t Comply
- If the council believes you’re in breach, it serves a remedial notice telling you what to fix.
- You have 28 days to make written representations if you think you took all reasonable steps.
- If you don’t do the work in time, the council can arrange it and charge you a penalty of up to £5,000.
Missing alarms can also count against you elsewhere: under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, in HMO licensing, and in any claim if there’s a fire or a CO incident.
📍 Where to Fit Them
Smoke alarms
- On the ceiling, at least 30 cm from walls and light fittings.
- On the hallway or landing of every floor as a minimum — that’s the escape route.
- For better protection, also in the living room and bedrooms.
- Kitchens: use a heat alarm, not a smoke alarm, to avoid false alarms from cooking.
- Not in bathrooms, where steam sets them off.
CO alarms
- In the same room as the appliance, usually 1 to 3 metres away from it.
- On the wall at head height or on the ceiling — follow the alarm’s own instructions.
- Not directly above a cooker or sink, behind curtains, or next to a window, door or extractor fan.
🔋 Which Alarms to Choose
| Type | Typical life | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Sealed 10-year battery smoke / heat alarm | 10 years | Most flats and houses |
| Mains-wired, interlinked smoke / heat alarms | 10 years | New builds, extensions, HMOs |
| Sealed battery CO alarm | 7–10 years | Boiler rooms, rooms with gas fires or stoves |
- The regulations don’t say what type of alarm to use, but sealed long-life batteries mean no flat-battery call-outs and no tenants removing batteries.
- New homes and major alterations need mains-wired, interlinked alarms under the Building Regulations — and that’s electrical work for a qualified electrician.
- Look for BS EN 14604 on smoke alarms and BS EN 50291 on CO alarms.
- Every alarm has an end-of-life date on it. Note it on your records and replace it before then.
🤝 Landlord vs Tenant: Who Does What
| Landlord | Tenant |
|---|---|
| Fit the right alarms in the right rooms | Test alarms regularly — monthly is a good habit |
| Check they work on the first day of the tenancy | Replace batteries where they can be changed |
| Repair or replace faulty alarms once told | Report any alarm that doesn’t work |
| Keep a record: check-in note, photos, test results | Never cover or remove an alarm |
🏆 Alarms Sorted by FE Maintenance
- Gas Safe registered and NICEIC qualified — gas, electrical and fire alarms in one company
- Gas safety certificate from £65, and we can check or replace your alarms on the same visit
- Smoke, heat and CO alarms supplied and fitted, including mains-wired interlinked systems — fixed price quote
- HMO fire alarm systems installed and maintained, including Grade A panel systems
- Free online client portal — every certificate stored in one place, with reminders before renewals. See how it works
We cover North, West and Central London. See our fire alarm services or ask for a quote.
General information, not legal advice, based on the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 as amended in 2022, as of October 2026. Rules in Wales and Scotland are different.
Frequently Asked Questions
Alarms Checked with Your Gas Safety Visit
Gas Safe registered and NICEIC qualified engineers across North, West and Central London. Gas safety certificate from £65; smoke, heat and CO alarms supplied and fitted at a fixed price.
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