Alarmingly Important: A Guide for Plymouth Landlords on New Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations! 🚨🏠
Being a landlord comes with its share of responsibilities, and staying up-to-date with changing regulations is a crucial part of the job. If you’re a landlord in Plymouth, the recent changes to smoke and carbon monoxide alarm regulations are something you need to know about. Our team at Plymouth Homes Lettings is here to break it down for you.
Changes to the Regulations: What You Need to Know 📜
Since 2015, landlords have been required to have at least one functioning smoke alarm on every storey with a room used as living accommodation. This rule remains, but the big change is in the realm of carbon monoxide (CO) alarms. As of October 1, 2022, landlords now have additional responsibilities regarding CO alarms.
Previously, CO alarms were mandatory only if there was a solid fuel-burning appliance in the property. Now, landlords must provide CO alarms in any living accommodation room with a fixed combustion appliance, including gas fires and boilers (excluding gas cookers). If a new fixed combustion appliance is added, a new alarm must be installed simultaneously.
Landlords, the New Torchbearers of Alarm Maintenance 🔧🏠
Another significant shift is in the responsibility for alarm maintenance during a tenancy. While landlords were previously responsible only for testing and fitting alarms at the start of a tenancy, they must now take charge of replacements or repairs during the entire tenancy. The tenant is no longer burdened with this responsibility.
No Alarm Discrimination: Your Choice, Your Compliance 🤷♂️🔔
The law hasn’t specified a particular type of CO or smoke alarm, leaving the decision to landlords based on their property and tenants’ needs. Both battery-powered and hard-wired alarms are acceptable as long as they comply with British Standards.
Where to Place Alarms: Rules of Engagement 📍🔊
While there are no strict guidelines on alarm placement, a smoke alarm should be on every storey with living accommodation, and CO alarms should be in all living accommodation rooms with fixed combustion appliances. Traditionally, smoke alarms are on the ceiling, while CO alarms should be 1-3 meters from potential CO sources and at head height.
Landlords’ New Symphony: Installing, Testing, and Recording 📋🚧
Landlords now bear the responsibility of installing suitable alarms and ensuring they’re in working order. On the first day of the tenancy, alarms must be tested, and any reported malfunctions during the tenancy must be replaced or repaired promptly.
To prove compliance, keep detailed records of installations, tests, and repairs. Conducting an inventory on the tenancy’s first day, with the tenant signing off, is a foolproof way to maintain these records.
The Legal Encore: Enforcements and Penalties ⚖️💸
The local housing authority will enforce these regulations, and landlords failing to comply with remedial notices may face fines of up to £5000 per breach. Proactive compliance is not just good practice; it’s a legal necessity.
In summary, Plymouth landlords, make sure your alarms are not just ringing, but also compliant with the new regulations. Stay ahead, keep records, and ensure your properties are not just homes but safe havens. For more insights or assistance, reach out to Plymouth Homes Lettings. 🏡👨💼 #LandlordLife #AlarmCompliance #SafeHomesPlymouth
P.S. Remember – Hindhead Property is not your typical estate agent and we’ll beat any fee! For more info call Louis or Philippa on 01752 875075, or email us at: q@hindheadproperty.com
