Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations for Landlords

Quick Answer

Landlords must fit at least one smoke alarm on every storey of a rental property used as living accommodation, and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room containing a fixed combustion appliance, such as a gas boiler, gas fire, or wood burner. These are set out in the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022, in force since 1 October 2022. Alarms must be working at the start of every tenancy, and landlords must repair or replace them once notified of a fault.

What the 2022 Amendment Changed

The original 2015 regulations only required carbon monoxide alarms in rooms with solid fuel appliances, such as wood burners and open fires. The 2022 amendment expanded this significantly to include any fixed combustion appliance, which brings gas boilers and gas fires into scope for the first time. Since most UK rental properties have a gas boiler, this change affected the majority of landlords who previously had no CO alarm requirement at all.

Smoke Alarm Requirements

At least one smoke alarm on every storey where a room is used wholly or partly as living accommodation
Positioned on the ceiling, in a circulation space such as a hallway or landing
Checked and confirmed working at the start of every new tenancy
Interlinked systems, wired or wireless, are strongly recommended though not always mandatory

Carbon Monoxide Alarm Requirements

Required in any room containing a fixed combustion appliance
This includes gas boilers, gas fires, wood burning stoves, and open fireplaces
Gas cookers are specifically excluded from the requirement, though many landlords fit one nearby as a precaution
Positioned at head height when seated, not on the ceiling, since carbon monoxide does not rise the way smoke does
Must be mains powered or have a tamper-proof lifetime battery

Electric-Only Properties

If a property has no fixed combustion appliances at all, such as fully electric heating, electric cooking, and electric hot water, no carbon monoxide alarm is required. Smoke alarms are still required regardless of heating type.

Landlord vs Tenant Responsibility

Landlords must ensure alarms are fitted and working at the start of a tenancy. Once the tenancy begins, tenants are generally expected to test alarms periodically, but the duty to repair or replace a faulty alarm sits with the landlord once notified. A tenant reporting a dead alarm creates an obligation the landlord must act on promptly.

HMOs Face Additional Requirements

Houses in multiple occupation must meet fire detection standards beyond the standard smoke and CO alarm rules. HMO licence conditions typically specify a fire detection grade based on the size and category of the HMO, often requiring interlinked mains-powered systems across shared areas as well as individual rooms. Check your specific licence conditions rather than assuming the standard domestic rules apply. See our guide on EICR for HMOs for how this connects to your wider HMO electrical compliance.

What Happens If You Don’t Comply

Non-compliance can result in a civil penalty of up to £5,000, though enforcement varies by local authority. Beyond the direct fine, missing alarm requirements can invalidate landlord insurance and weaken your position in any possession or deposit dispute, since tenant safety compliance is now closely tied to landlords’ ability to manage tenancies under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.

How This Fits Your Compliance Calendar

Alarm checks are quick to combine with your annual gas safety visit, since both are safety-focused checks that benefit from the same appointment. See our full gas safety certificate guide for how to build a combined annual compliance routine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do landlords need a carbon monoxide alarm for a gas cooker?
No. Gas cookers are specifically excluded from the CO alarm requirement, though a precautionary alarm nearby is sensible.

How many smoke alarms does a rental property need?
At least one per storey used as living accommodation.

Who repairs a faulty smoke alarm, landlord or tenant?
The landlord must repair or replace it once notified, even though tenants are generally expected to test alarms periodically.

Do electric-only properties need a carbon monoxide alarm?
No, if there are no fixed combustion appliances at all. Smoke alarms are still required regardless.

Do these rules apply to existing tenancies or only new ones?
They apply to all private tenancies in England, not just new ones, since 1 October 2022.