Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms in Private Rented Property

The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015

From 1 October 2015, new regulations require private sector landlords to have at least one working smoke alarm installed on every storey of their rental property. Where there’s a solid fuel appliance, they are also required to have a carbon monoxide alarm installed in the room in which it is used.

Landlords must make sure that there are adequate working alarms at the start of each new tenancy.

Housing Services staff are responsible for enforcing these regulations and are required to issue a notice to a landlord where they believe that a property does not have the required smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

If the landlord fails to comply with this notice, we will arrange (with the occupiers consent) to have the appropriate alarms fitted in default of the notice. We can also issue a fixed penalty notice of up to £5000 where a notice has not been complied with.

The Council is obliged to publish a Statement of Principles for determining financial penalties; this must set out how the Council proposes to determine the amount of penalty charge. 

Statement of Principles

Private landlords and tenants can contact Housing Services for further information or to report any concerns, please contact us on the details below.

The Government has issued Guidance for Landlords, further information can also be found on their website at www.gov.uk.

Cleveland Fire Brigade has a limited number of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms which may be available when booked through a Home Fire Safety Visit.

For further information on the work of Cleveland Fire Brigade visit http://www.clevelandfire.gov.uk/.