Government mandates smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in rented homes
New requirements for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in rented homes are due to come into force on 1st October 2022.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) recently outlined new guidance requiring smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in all rented homes. The guidance also includes the installation of carbon monoxide alarms in all rented homes with a boiler.
From October smoke alarms will be mandatory in all social housing. This is in addition to existing requirements for the installation of smoke alarms in privately rented homes.
In both social housing and privately rented homes, carbon monoxide alarms will become mandatory in any room with a fixed combustion appliance. These include clothes dryers and space heaters, but exclude gas cookers. Carbon monoxide alarms will also be compulsory in all homes with a fixed combustion appliance subject to amendments to Approved Document J. It is worth noting this is already a requirement for solid fuel appliances.
While the changes begin from 1 October 2022, transitional arrangements are expected. Further information and updates can be found on the DLUHC website.
This article originally appeared on the Electrical Contractors Association news and blog site on August 9 under the same title.
--ECA
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- BS 5839-1.
- Carbon monoxide.
- Carbon monoxide detector.
- Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
- Domestic smoke alarms DG525.
- Fire detection and alarm system.
- Fire detector.
- Housing minister.
- Heat alarm.
- Interlinked fire alarm safety laws in Scotland.
- Ionisation smoke alarm.
- Levelling up.
- Levelling up the infrastructure agenda.
- Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
- Multi-sensor alarm.
- Multiple-station smoke alarm.
- Optical smoke alarm.
- Smoke.
- Smoke detector.
- Smoke detection in high ceiling spaces.
- Smoke barrier.
- Types of building sensors
- The causes of false fire alarms in buildings.
Featured articles and news
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.
The Sustainability Pathfinder© Handbook
Built environment agency launches free Pathfinder© tool to help businesses progress sustainability strategies.
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.
The changed R&D tax landscape for Architects
Specialist gives a recap on tax changes for Research and Development, via the ACA newsletter.
Structured product data as a competitive advantage
NBS explain why accessible product data that works across digital systems is key.
Welsh retrofit workforce assessment
Welsh Government report confirms Wales faces major electrical skills shortage, warns ECA.
A now architectural practice looks back at its concept project for a sustainable oceanic settlement 25 years on.
Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Government report and back track on copyright opt out for AI training but no clear preferred alternative as yet.
Embedding AI tools into architectural education
Beyond the render: LMU share how student led research is shaping the future of visualisation workflows.
Why document control still fails UK construction projects
A Chartered Quantity Surveyor explains what needs to change and how.
Inspiration for a new 2026 wave of Irish construction professionals.
New planning reforms and Warm Homes Bill
Take centre stage at UK Construction Week London.