Landlord smoke and carbon monoxide alarm requirements (England)
The short answer: in England, private and social landlords must (GOV.UK):
- fit at least one smoke alarm on every storey that has a room used as living accommodation
- fit a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm in every room used as living accommodation that has a fixed combustion appliance (for example, a gas or oil boiler or a log burner), but not gas cookers
- check that the alarms work on the day a new tenancy begins
- repair or replace faulty alarms once told about them
Councils can fine up to £5,000 for failing to comply with a remedial notice.
General information, not legal advice. This page covers England only. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have different rules. If you're unsure how the rules apply to your property, get legal advice.
Who the rules apply to
The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015, as amended from 1 October 2022, apply to homes let by private landlords and registered providers of social housing (GOV.UK).
Excluded: accommodation shared with the landlord or the landlord's family (for example, a lodger who shares your kitchen), long leases, student halls, hotels and refuges, care homes, hospitals and hospices, low-cost ownership homes and other healthcare accommodation.
HMOs: the regulations apply to unlicensed HMOs. Licensed HMOs are exempt from parts of the regulations because HMO licence conditions impose similar requirements (GOV.UK).
Smoke alarms: the detail
- At least one on each storey with a room used wholly or partly as living accommodation. The guidance treats a hall or landing as a room, and a bathroom or toilet as living accommodation.
- A mezzanine isn't a storey, in the department's view.
- The regulations don't say where on the storey. In general, fix alarms to the ceiling in a circulation space (a hall or landing) and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
- Heat detectors don't replace smoke alarms.
Source: GOV.UK.
Carbon monoxide alarms: the detail
- Needed in any room used as living accommodation with a fixed combustion appliance, meaning a fixed apparatus that burns fuel to make heat: gas or oil boilers, log-burning stoves, coal fires.
- Gas cookers are excluded.
- A non-working, purely decorative fireplace isn't a fixed combustion appliance, in the department's view.
- In general, position CO alarms at head height, on a wall or shelf, about 1 to 3 metres from the appliance.
Source: GOV.UK.
Testing and record-keeping
- You (or someone on your behalf) must check each required alarm is in working order on the day a new tenancy begins.
- Keep a record of when you tested. The guidance suggests one way is for the tenant to sign the inventory on day one to confirm the alarms were tested and work.
- During the tenancy, tenants are advised to test alarms and replace batteries. If an alarm still doesn't work, or they can't change the battery, they should tell you. You're responsible for repairing or replacing faulty alarms.
- Consider giving tenants a demonstration or the manufacturer's testing instructions.
Source: GOV.UK.
Day-one alarm checklist
| ☐ | Check |
|---|---|
| ☐ | A smoke alarm on every storey with living accommodation (including halls and landings) |
| ☐ | A CO alarm in every living room or bedroom with a boiler, stove, fire or other fixed combustion appliance (not gas cookers) |
| ☐ | Every alarm tested on the day the tenancy starts |
| ☐ | Test recorded, for example signed by the tenant on the inventory |
| ☐ | Testing instructions given to the tenant |
| ☐ | Tenant knows how to report a faulty alarm |
Enforcement and fines
Local councils enforce the rules. If you're in breach, the council can serve a remedial notice. Failing to comply can lead to a fine of up to £5,000, and fines apply per breach, not per landlord or property. You can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal. If a tenant won't let you in, you must take all reasonable steps, such as writing to explain and offering convenient times, and keep a written record of your attempts (GOV.UK).
What to look for when buying alarms
The regulations don't require a particular type. Mains-wired and battery alarms are both allowed. The government's guidance says (GOV.UK):
- Smoke alarms: choose alarms compliant with BS 5839-6.
- CO alarms: choose alarms compliant with BS EN 50291-1. The booklet calls it "BS 50291". BSI lists the current domestic CO alarm standard as BS EN 50291-1:2018 (BSI).
- Battery alarms: sealed-for-life batteries are the better option than replaceable ones.
- Deaf or hard-of-hearing tenants: consider alarms that alert by vibration or flashing lights, and your duties under the Equality Act 2010.
- Choose based on the building and your tenants.
Related: Landlord legal requirements checklist · MTD for landlords
Last checked against GOV.UK on 18 October 2026. Not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Do landlords have to fit hard-wired smoke alarms?
The smoke and CO regulations don't require it. Battery alarms are allowed, and sealed-for-life batteries are preferred. Choose based on the building and your tenants (GOV.UK).
Is a carbon monoxide alarm needed next to a gas cooker?
Not under these regulations. Gas cookers are excluded (GOV.UK).
Who replaces the batteries?
Tenants are advised to replace batteries during the tenancy. Landlords must repair or replace faulty alarms once told about them.
Do the rules apply if I have a lodger?
Not if the lodger shares accommodation, such as a kitchen or living room, with you or your family (GOV.UK).
What's the fine for not having smoke alarms?
Up to £5,000 per breach, for not complying with a remedial notice.
Sources
- GOV.UK: The smoke and carbon monoxide alarm england regulations 2015 qa booklet for the private rented sect…
- legislation.gov.uk: 4
- GOV.UK: Landlord responsibilities
- knowledge.bsigroup.com: Gas detectors electrical apparatus for the detection of carbon monoxide in domestic… (BSI, BS EN 50291-1:2018, checked 2026-10-18)
Facts last checked: 18 October 2026.