The Government has launched a consultation proposing to extend regulations around smoke and carbon monoxide alarms which affect the private rented sector and social landlords. The consultation runs until 11 January 2021. If you have any comments to add to the PRSP response we would be obliged if you could send them by 15 December 2020.
Social landlords would be brought into the requirement to provide alarms and private landlords would be given a specific requirement to repair or replace smoke and carbon monoxide alarms (not in the original regulations). There would not be a requirement on landlords to test alarms, the view is that the tenant should continue to do this. The proposals also suggest requiring carbon monoxide alarms in any room where there is a fuel burning appliance, other than a gas cooker. Currently they are only required for solid fuel burning appliances, so this would bring oil and gas burning appliances into the requirements.