Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Rules for Landlords in 2026

# Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Rules for Landlords in 2026

Quick Answer

Every privately rented home in England must have a working smoke alarm on every storey and a carbon monoxide alarm in every room containing a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers). Landlords must test alarms at the start of every new tenancy and repair or replace them as soon as they are reported faulty. Breach of the regulations can lead to a £5,000 civil penalty per property.

Key Takeaways

• Smoke alarm on every storey used as living accommodation.
• CO alarm in every room with a fixed combustion appliance (except gas cookers).
• Test on the first day of a new tenancy and document it.
• Repair or replace within a reasonable time of being notified.
• Up to £5,000 fine per breach.

What Has Changed?

The 2022 amendment

The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (in force from October 2022) extended the CO alarm rule to any room with a fixed combustion appliance — not just solid fuel. This now includes gas boilers, gas fires and oil boilers.

Council enforcement

Councils can issue a remedial notice giving you 28 days to comply. Ignoring it triggers the £5,000 fine. Many councils now ask tenants to upload alarm photos when reporting disrepair.

Renters' Rights Act link

Possession claims may be challenged where smoke/CO alarms are missing, because the property may not meet the Decent Homes Standard. Evidence of working alarms is part of your compliance pack.

What the Rules Actually Require

Smoke alarms

• One alarm on each storey used as living accommodation.
• Must be in working order at the start of each new tenancy.
• Best practice: interlinked alarms so one triggers all.
• Hard-wired (Grade D) preferred; sealed 10-year lithium battery alarms acceptable.

Carbon monoxide alarms

• One alarm in every room with a fixed combustion appliance.
• Includes gas boilers, gas fires, oil boilers, log burners.
• Gas cookers are excluded from the requirement.
• Must comply with BS EN 50291.

Testing

• Landlord tests on day one of a new tenancy — push the test button.
• Tenants are responsible for routine testing during the tenancy.
• Landlord repairs/replaces as soon as reasonably practicable after being notified.

What Landlords Need To Do Now

Step 1: Audit every property

For each property, record:

• Number of storeys
• Number and location of smoke alarms
• Rooms with fixed combustion appliances
• Number and location of CO alarms
• Date alarms were installed and date due for replacement

Step 2: Upgrade to long-life or interlinked alarms

Sealed 10-year alarms remove the dead-battery problem. Mesh or RF-interlinked alarms are best practice for two-storey homes.

Step 3: Test on every check-in

Photograph each alarm with the test light flashing, dated, and store in your check-in pack. Have the tenant sign the inventory confirming alarms work.

Step 4: Train tenants

Include a one-page guide on alarm testing, battery replacement (for non-sealed units) and how to report faults.

Step 5: Respond fast to reports

If a tenant reports a faulty alarm, attend within 7 days (24 hours for CO). Keep a maintenance log entry.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

1. Missing the CO alarm next to a boiler

Many landlords still rely on the old "solid fuel only" rule. Update — every gas/oil boiler room needs one.

2. Forgetting upstairs storeys

A converted loft or third storey counts. Each storey, no exceptions.

3. Using cheap, non-BS-compliant alarms

Only BS EN 14604 (smoke) and BS EN 50291 (CO) are valid.

4. Failing to document testing

Without dated photos and a signed inventory, you cannot prove you tested at check-in.

5. Leaving expired alarms in place

Most alarms have a 10-year life printed on the back. Replace on the date, not when they bleep.

6. Ignoring the kitchen

While gas cookers don't trigger the CO rule, smoke alarms in a kitchen open-plan to a living room are a fire risk hotspot — add a heat alarm.

7. Relying on tenant-installed alarms

You must provide the alarms. A tenant's own device doesn't satisfy the regulations.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many smoke alarms do I need?

One on every storey used as living accommodation.

2. Where do CO alarms go?

In every room containing a fixed combustion appliance (gas/oil boiler, gas fire, log burner, etc.).

3. Are gas cookers covered?

No — gas cookers are excluded.

4. Can I use sealed 10-year battery alarms?

Yes — they're acceptable and recommended.

5. Who is responsible for testing?

Landlord on day one of a new tenancy; tenant during the tenancy.

6. What if a tenant removes the alarm?

Document it, replace it, and remind the tenant in writing of the safety risk and breach of tenancy.

7. What's the fine for non-compliance?

Up to £5,000 per property per breach.

8. Do I need a CO alarm in a flat with a communal boiler?

If the boiler is in your demise, yes. If it's communal in a separate plant room, the freeholder is responsible for that room.

9. What standard should alarms meet?

BS EN 14604 for smoke; BS EN 50291 for CO.

10. How often should alarms be replaced?

Follow the manufacturer's expiry — typically 10 years.

11. Do I need an alarm in a hallway?

Yes — that counts as a storey alarm.

12. Does my smoke alarm need to be hard-wired?

No — long-life sealed battery alarms are acceptable, though hard-wired interlinked are best practice.

References

• Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015
• Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022
• BS EN 14604 (smoke alarms)
• BS EN 50291 (CO alarms)
• MHCLG: Guidance for landlords on smoke and CO alarms

---

*Written by the Smart Sleep Property Editorial Team. This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for legal advice.*