Compliance Guide
Smoke & CO Alarm Regulations for Landlords — Requirements, Testing & Penalties
UK landlord obligations for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms: where to install, testing requirements, 2022 regulation changes, and fines up to £5,000.
Smoke & CO Alarms Quick Reference
Legal basis
The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/1693), as amended by the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (SI 2022/707). Enforced by local housing authorities.
Renewal cycle
As required
Who can issue
No formal certification or third-party inspection is required. The landlord is responsible for installation, testing, and maintenance. Any competent person can install smoke and CO alarms. For mains-wired alarms, a qualified electrician should carry out the installation. Testing at the start of each tenancy should be documented with a signed record.
Max fine
£5,000
Section 21
Does not block
1. Overview
The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 strengthened the requirements for landlords in England, building on the original 2015 Regulations. Landlords must now ensure a smoke alarm is installed on every storey of a rental property where there is a room used as living accommodation, and a carbon monoxide alarm is installed in any room containing a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers). This includes rooms with gas boilers, gas fires, wood-burning stoves, oil-fired boilers, and coal fires.
The 2022 amendment, which came into force on 1 October 2022, made two significant changes: carbon monoxide alarms are now required in rooms with ANY fixed combustion appliance (previously only solid fuel), and landlords must repair or replace alarms that are reported as faulty during a tenancy. Previously, the obligation was only to ensure alarms were working at the start of each tenancy. Alarms must be tested on the first day of each new tenancy, and landlords should document this test with a signed record.
While the Regulations do not specify the type of alarm, best practice is to install sealed lithium battery alarms with a 10-year lifespan (eliminating the need for annual battery replacement) or mains-wired alarms with battery backup. Interlinked alarms — where triggering one sets off all alarms in the property — are recommended by fire services but not yet a legal requirement for existing rental properties. However, Scotland requires interlinked alarms in all homes since February 2022, and this standard may eventually extend to England and Wales. The penalty for non-compliance is a fine of up to £5,000, issued by the local authority after a remedial notice has been served and not complied with.
2. Cost
A Smoke & CO Alarms typically costs between £15 and £150. Sealed 10-year lithium battery smoke alarms cost £15–£25 each. CO alarms cost £18–£30 each. A typical 2-storey property needs 2 smoke alarms and 1 CO alarm (£50–£80 total). Mains-wired interlinked systems cost £100–£150 per property installed by an electrician.
3. Regional Variations
England
The 2015 Regulations (as amended 2022) require smoke alarms on every storey and CO alarms in rooms with any fixed combustion appliance. Landlords must test at the start of each tenancy and repair or replace faulty alarms during the tenancy. Local authorities enforce via remedial notices, with fines up to £5,000.
Wales
The Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 requires landlords to ensure working smoke alarms and CO detectors are fitted. The specific requirements are set out in the Fitness for Human Habitation (FFHH) provisions. Wales does not directly mirror the England 2022 amendments, but the practical requirements are similar. Rent Smart Wales expects compliance.
Scotland
Scotland has the strictest requirements in the UK. Since 1 February 2022, ALL homes (not just rentals) must have interlinked fire alarms: one smoke alarm in the living room, one in every hallway, one heat alarm in the kitchen, and a CO detector in rooms with a combustion appliance. All alarms must be interlinked (hardwired or radio-frequency). This applies under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 as amended by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006.
Northern Ireland
The Private Tenancies (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 requires landlords to ensure the property is fit for human habitation, which includes adequate fire detection. While there is no standalone regulation equivalent to England's 2015 Regulations, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service recommends smoke alarms on every level and CO alarms near combustion appliances. The Housing Executive can take action if fire safety standards are not met.
4. Smoke & CO Alarms by Location
Requirements and costs vary by local authority. Select your area for council-specific guidance.
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Start tracking your Smoke & CO AlarmsFrequently Asked Questions
Where exactly must smoke alarms be installed?
At least one smoke alarm on every storey of the property that contains a room used as living accommodation. 'Living accommodation' includes bedrooms, living rooms, studies, and kitchens — so a three-storey house needs at minimum three smoke alarms. Alarms should be ceiling-mounted in hallways or landings, at least 300mm from any wall or light fitting. Avoid placing smoke alarms in kitchens (use a heat alarm instead) or bathrooms.
Do I need a CO alarm if the property only has a gas boiler?
Yes. Since the October 2022 amendment, CO alarms are required in any room containing a fixed combustion appliance, including gas boilers, gas fires, and oil boilers — not just solid fuel appliances as was previously the case. If the boiler is in a kitchen cupboard, the CO alarm should be in the same room, mounted at head height on the wall (not on the ceiling like smoke alarms).
Am I responsible for replacing batteries during a tenancy?
Yes. Since the 2022 amendment, landlords must repair or replace alarms reported as faulty during a tenancy. This includes replacing batteries. To avoid ongoing maintenance, install sealed 10-year lithium battery alarms or mains-wired alarms with battery backup. If a tenant reports a beeping alarm (low battery warning), you must address it — you cannot simply tell the tenant to replace the battery.
What type of smoke alarm should I use — ionisation or optical?
Optical (photoelectric) alarms are recommended for rental properties. They are better at detecting slow, smouldering fires (the most common type in homes) and are less prone to false alarms from cooking. Ionisation alarms are better for fast-flaming fires but trigger false alarms frequently near kitchens, leading tenants to remove batteries. Multi-sensor alarms combining both technologies offer the best coverage.
Do I need to provide fire extinguishers or fire blankets?
For standard rental properties, there is no legal requirement to provide fire extinguishers or fire blankets. However, for HMOs, fire safety requirements are more extensive and may include fire blankets in kitchens, fire extinguishers on each floor, and fire doors — depending on the local authority's HMO licence conditions. A fire risk assessment for HMOs will specify exactly what is needed.