Smoke and CO alarms: the rules for landlords
The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations set out where alarms must go in rented homes in England, when to test them, and what to do when one is faulty. Here is the short version, plus the alarms we recommend.
Published 11 November 2026 · By Positive Contractors, NICEIC Approved Contractor and Gas Safe registered
The rules at a glance
| Smoke alarms | At least one on every storey of the home that is used wholly or partly as living accommodation, including a bathroom or toilet on a landing. |
|---|---|
| Carbon monoxide alarms | In every room used as living accommodation with a fixed combustion appliance, such as a gas boiler, gas fire or log burner. Gas cookers are excluded. |
| Start of tenancy | Check every alarm is working on the day each new tenancy begins. |
| Faults | Repair or replace an alarm once a tenant reports it is faulty. |
| Penalty | Councils can serve a remedial notice and fine landlords up to £5,000 if it is not complied with. |
The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015, as amended in force from 1 October 2022. They apply to private and social landlords. A summary, not legal advice.
Which alarms to fit
The regulations don't specify a type, so the choice is about reliability and how much testing and battery-chasing you want to do.
- Sealed 10-year battery alarms: quick to fit, no tenant battery changes. Good for most single lets.
- Mains-wired, interlinked alarms with battery backup: when one sounds, they all sound. Required by building regulations in new builds and major refurbishments, and the best choice for larger homes and HMOs.
- Heat alarms in kitchens: smoke alarms false-alarm from cooking, so a heat alarm linked to the others is the right choice there.
- CO alarms: fit them at head height, between 1 and 3 metres from the appliance. Mains or 10-year sealed units both work.
Testing and record keeping
- Press the test button on every alarm on the day the tenancy starts, and get the tenant to sign or confirm it
- Note the expiry date on each alarm; most need replacing after 10 years
- Show tenants how to test them, and ask them to report any fault straight away
- Keep a dated record with your other certificates, ideally with photos
HMOs and blocks of flats
Houses in multiple occupation and flats with shared parts usually need more than the minimum: a mains-wired, interlinked fire alarm system designed to the right category of BS 5839-6, often with emergency lighting. The fire risk assessment and the council's licence conditions set what is required. See our guide to fire doors in flats and HMOs.
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Common questions
Do I need a CO alarm next to a gas cooker?
No. Gas cookers are excluded from the regulations. You do need one in any room used as living accommodation with a fixed combustion appliance such as a boiler, gas fire or wood burner.
Who tests the alarms during a tenancy?
The landlord must check they work on the first day of each new tenancy. After that, tenants are advised to test them regularly and report faults, and the landlord must repair or replace a faulty alarm.
Do battery alarms meet the regulations?
Yes. The regulations don't specify the type. Sealed 10-year battery alarms are a common choice. Mains-wired interlinked alarms are required in new builds and are best for HMOs.
Can you fit mains-wired alarms in a rented property?
Yes. Our NICEIC-approved electricians fit mains-wired interlinked smoke, heat and CO alarms, usually in a day, and can do it alongside an EICR.
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