As of 1st October 2022, it will be a legal requirement for all rental properties to have carbon monoxide (CO) alarms for each fixed combustion appliance. This has come in response to the two-month consultation last year about the use of smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in domestic properties.
Previously, under the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015, CO alarms were only required to be fitted in rental properties for solid fuel burning appliances. The new extended regulations state that from 1st October 2022 a CO alarm is required to be fitted in all rooms where there is a fixed combustion appliance, such as a gas boiler or gas fire. This doesn’t include gas cookers. It is the landlord’s responsibility to ensure that when any new gas appliance is installed in the rental property, that a CO alarm is also fitted. The cost of installing and maintaining these alarms lies with the landlord, but the regular testing is the responsibility of the tenant.
Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odourless and tasteless gas, it is referred to as the silent killer. It is very hard to spot if appliances are producing high levels of this gas, and that is why it is so important that CO alarms are installed.
For more information on carbon monoxide please read our blog Carbon Monoxide(CO) Poisoning
