Regulations requiring landlords to install smoke detectors in all private rental properties, and carbon monoxide detectors in room with solid fuel appliances (England) have stalled in committee in the House of Lords.

Peers raised a number of concerns, not least the fact the regulations are due to come into force on October 1st – just 3 weeks away.  Some wanted the regulations, which only apply to the Private Rented Sector (PRS), extended to cover social housing and owner occupiers, while others wanted the CO detectors to be installed in all PRS properties.

The government must bring the regulations back to a full sitting of the Lords, most likely next week.  It remains to be seen whether any changes will be made or the deadline for introduction delayed.

The Lords setback comes just days after the Government issued guidance for landlords and local authorities, making it clear the regulations applied to all tenancies and that they would be enforced from 1st October, with no ‘grace period’.

The DCLG has published two guides regarding the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015.

Q&A Booklet for the Private Rented Sector – landlords and tenants

• The document answers Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding responsibilities, what type of alarms are required, exemptions, and enforcement
• Click here to view the guide for landlords and tenants

Explanatory Booklet for Local Authorities

This guide provides local authorities the information required to enforce the laws that are likely to be approved by Government.

• Enforcement authorities (local authorities) are required to issue a remedial notice where they have reasonable grounds to believe a landlord has not complied with one or more of the requirements.
• Click here to view the explanatory booklet for local authorities

Landlords will rightly gravitate towards the booklet designed for them; however, the local authority guidance could be of use because of the Enforcement Process that is laid out in the second document.

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