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Smoke alarms/Detectors
From the 1st October 2015 – All rented properties will be required to have a smoke detector/alarm installed on every floor. This will include any small mesne landings with a single room leading from it. It will also be the landlord’s duty to ensure that each alarm is tested and working prior to the commencement of any new tenancy. It will remain the tenant’s obligation to check the alarms throughout their occupation and to replace any batteries in the alarms – however, a landlord will be required to replace/fix any defective alarm.
The introduction of this legislation is for all properties, including any existing tenancy and there are no indications that there will be any buffer period for installation.
New Tenancies (commencing after the 1st September 2015)
It is your responsibility to ensure that any new property being let has the relevant smoke detectors/alarms installed on every floor prior to a tenancy being agreed. Where the property does not have adequate alarms you will need to make arrangements for them to be installed. You should not agree any new tenancy where such alarms are missing.
You will be responsible for ensuring that the smoke alarms have been tested prior to the commencement of the tenancy. We recommend that the alarms are checked twice. First, when a property comes on the market. This will provide you with the opportunity to identify any defects allowing you to rectify them prior to the agreement of any tenancy. Then, once you have agreed a new tenancy to commence, a further recorded test should be carried out. We would recommend that this forms part of the inventory/check-in report.
Carbon Monoxide Alarms/Detectors
From the 1st October 2015 – All rooms used as part of the living accommodation that has an existing solid fuel appliance must also have a carbon monoxide (CO) detector installed.
The introduction of this legislation is for all properties, including any existing tenancy and there are no indications that there will be any buffer period for installation.
Whilst the legislation only states that rooms with solid fuel appliances require a CO detector, we recommend that any room with a solid fuel, gas or LPG appliance has a detector installed.
New Tenancies (commencing after the 1st September 2015)
It is your responsibility to ensure that any new property being let has the relevant CO alarms installed prior to a tenancy being agreed. Where the property does not have adequate alarms you will need to make arrangements for them to be installed. You should not agree any new tenancy where such alarms are missing.
You will be responsible for ensuring that the alarms have been tested prior to the commencement of the tenancy. We recommend that the alarms are checked twice. First, when a property comes on the market.
This will provide you with the opportunity to identify any defects allowing you to rectify them prior to the agreement of any tenancy. Then, once you have agreed a new tenancy to commence, a further recorded test should be carried out. We would recommend that this forms part of the inventory/check-in report.
Research and content provided by Lora Cooper DipRLM (FARLA) (AssocRICS)
