.jpg)
!st October 2022
What type of carbon monoxide alarm is required?
The regulations do not stipulate the type of alarms (such as mains powered (‘hard wired’) or battery powered) that should be installed.
Landlords should make an informed decision and choose the type of carbon monoxide alarms based on the needs of their building and their tenants, and those alarms are compliant with British Standards BS 50291. Where battery-powered alarms are selected, alarms with ‘sealed for life’ batteries rather than alarms with replaceable batteries ar
e the better option
Where do carbon monoxide alarms need to be located?
The regulations do not stipulate where the alarms should be placed.
A carbon monoxide alarm should be installed in every room which is used as living accommodation containing a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers).
Landlords should follow the individual manufacturer’s instructions when installing the alarms. However, in general, carbon monoxide alarms should be positioned at head height, either on a wall or shelf, approximately 1-3 metres away from a potential source of carbon monoxide
How should landlords prove that they have tested alarms at the start of a tenancy?
It is the responsibility of landlords to keep a record of when alarms are tested.
The local housing authority must decide whether the evidence provided proves that the landlord has met the requirements of the regulations.
Alarms can be tested when the Gas Safety Inspection is carried out and recorded on the CP12 certificate, or if the landlord goes through the inventory on the first day of the tenancy and makes provision for the tenant to sign the inventory to record that the required alarms have been tested by the landlord and the tenant is satisfied they are in working order.
Does the penalty of up to £5,000 apply per landlord, or per breach?
Where a landlord is in breach, the local housing authority may serve a remedial notice. Failure to comply with each remedial notice can lead to a fine of up to £5,000. Fines will be applied per breach, rather than per landlord or property.
For more information, please visit the link below to the Gov website.
