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Landlords

Smoke and heat alarm rules for rented homes

By Mizan, Founder and lead engineer4 min read

An electrician fitting a mains-wired smoke alarm to a living room ceiling

The requirements for alarms in rented property tightened in October 2022, and a lot of properties still have not caught up.

The requirement

  • At least one smoke alarm on every storey used as living accommodation.
  • A carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance, excluding gas cookers.
  • Alarms repaired or replaced once the landlord is told they are faulty.

Why interlinked and mains-wired is better

Battery alarms get taken down when they chirp and never go back up. Mains-wired alarms with battery backup do not have that failure mode. Interlinking matters more still — when one alarm detects smoke, every alarm in the property sounds, so a fire starting downstairs wakes someone sleeping upstairs.

If you are unsure, it is always cheaper to ask than to guess. Give us a call and we will tell you straight.

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