Guide

Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms: what to fit and check

The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 set out where alarms go and when they are checked. Each line below states what the linked regulation says.

Not legal advice. Every figure on this page states what the linked gov.uk page says.

Written and checked by Will Roxby. Updated .

Where the alarms go

While the property is let you must make sure there is:

  • a smoke alarm on each storey that has a room used wholly or partly as living accommodation
  • a carbon monoxide alarm in any room used wholly or partly as living accommodation that has a fixed combustion appliance other than a gas cooker

Source: legislation.gov.uk: Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015, regulation 4, checked on 13 October 2026.

The check on day one

Each alarm must be checked by you or on your behalf to make sure it is in proper working order. The check is on the day a new tenancy begins.

Source: legislation.gov.uk: Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015, regulation 4, checked on 13 October 2026.

Repairs

If a tenant or their representative reports that an alarm is not in proper working order, it must be repaired or replaced. This applies to reports made on or after 1 October 2022.

Source: legislation.gov.uk: Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015, regulation 4, checked on 13 October 2026.

The penalty

If the council has served a remedial notice and the landlord does not comply with it, the council can require a penalty charge. The penalty charge must not be more than £5,000.

Source: legislation.gov.uk: Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015, regulation 8, checked on 13 October 2026.

Sources

Each source shows the date it was last checked. Each guide states what the linked official source says, with the dates and nothing more. England only.

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