Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations: What UK Landlords Must Know in 2025

A complete guide to the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 — what's required, where alarms must go, and the penalties for non-compliance.

<h2Smoke &amp; Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations for UK Landlords</h2 <pThe <strongSmoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022</strong, which came into force on <strong1 October 2022</strong, significantly strengthened the requirements for landlords in England. These rules apply to all private rented properties and build upon the original 2015 regulations.</p

<h3What the Law Requires</h3 <pUnder the current regulations, landlords in England must ensure:</p <ol <li<strongAt least one smoke alarm is installed on every storey</strong of the property that contains a room used wholly or partly as living accommodation.</li <li<strongA carbon monoxide (CO) alarm is installed in any room</strong that contains a <strongfixed combustion appliance</strong — this includes gas boilers, wood-burning stoves, open fires, and oil-fired appliances. <strongGas cookers are excluded</strong from this requirement.</li <li<strongAll alarms must be in working order at the start of each new tenancy.</strong Landlords should test alarms on the day a new tenancy begins or the day a tenant moves in.</li </ol

<h3Ongoing Duty to Repair</h3 <pSince October 2022, landlords also have a <strongduty to repair or replace</strong faulty smoke and CO alarms once they have been informed by the tenant. This extends the landlord's responsibility beyond just the start of the tenancy.</p

<h3Types of Alarms</h3 <pThe regulations do not specify the type of alarm that must be used, but the government recommends:</p <ul <li<strongSealed, long-life lithium battery alarms</strong (lasting up to 10 years) for smoke detection</li <li<strongSealed battery CO alarms</strong conforming to <strongBS EN 50291</strong standard</li <li<strongInterlinked alarm systems</strong are recommended for larger properties, particularly HMOs, but are not a legal requirement under these regulations (though they may be required under HMO licensing conditions)</li </ul

<h3Where to Install Alarms</h3 <ul <li<strongSmoke alarms</strong should be installed on the ceiling in hallways and landings, following manufacturer instructions. The key requirement is one per storey with living accommodation.</li <li<strongCO alarms</strong should be placed in the same room as the combustion appliance, ideally at head height on a wall or on the ceiling, between 1 and 3 metres from the appliance.</li </ul

<h3Penalties for Non-Compliance</h3 <pLocal authorities enforce these regulations. If a landlord fails to comply after receiving a <strongremedial notice</strong, the local authority can:</p <ul <liArrange for alarms to be installed themselves and <strongrecover costs</strong from the landlord</li <liIssue a <strongpenalty charge of up to £5,000</strong</li </ul <pIt is important to note that the fine is per breach, so multiple missing alarms could result in multiple penalties.</p

<h3Scotland, Wales &amp; Northern Ireland</h3 <pThese regulations apply specifically to <strongEngland</strong. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have their own requirements:</p <ul <li<strongScotland</strong: Interlinked fire alarms (heat and smoke) are mandatory in all homes since February 2022, including private rentals.</li <li<strongWales</strong: Similar requirements under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, requiring smoke alarms on every storey and CO alarms where solid fuel appliances are present.</li <li<strongNorthern Ireland</strong: Smoke alarms are required under building regulations for new builds and conversions.</li </ul

<h3Best Practices</h3 <ul <liTest all alarms on the first day of each new tenancy and keep a dated record</li <liReplace battery-operated alarms every 10 years (or as per manufacturer guidance)</li <liConsider hard-wired interlinked alarm systems for better protection</li <liKeep receipts and records of alarm purchases and installations</li <liInclude alarm testing as part of your periodic property inspections</li </ul

<h3How LetSentry Helps</h3 <pLetSentry tracks your Smoke &amp; CO alarm compliance alongside Gas Safety, EICR, and EPC certificates, alerting you before checks expire so you never miss a deadline.</p

<p<emThis article is for general guidance only. Always refer to the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/smoke-and-carbon-monoxide-alarms-explanatory-booklet-for-landlords" target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"official government guidance</a for the latest requirements.</em</p

Sources: - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/smoke-and-carbon-monoxide-alarms-explanatory-booklet-for-landlords - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/1693/contents/made - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2022/707/contents/made

Published: 2026-03-06.

Last reviewed: 2026-08-30.

General summary; not legal advice.