Do You Need a Carbon Monoxide Alarm in Your Rented Home?

If you’re renting in England, safety standards in your home are an important right. One crucial topic is carbon monoxide (CO) alarms. Understanding the latest laws will help ensure your landlord is meeting safety standards and protect you from preventable harm. This guide covers when carbon monoxide alarms are required, what landlords must do, and your options if those rules aren’t met.

Understanding Carbon Monoxide Alarm Requirements

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas produced by incomplete combustion of fuels like gas, wood, coal, or oil. Because it has no smell or taste, it can be deadly if undetected. For renters, having a working carbon monoxide alarm is a legal and vital safety measure.

Who Must Provide a Carbon Monoxide Alarm?

Under current law in England, landlords must:

• Install at least one carbon monoxide alarm in any room used as living accommodation where there is a fixed combustion appliance (such as a boiler, wood-burning stove, or open fire), except appliances solely for cooking.
• Check the alarm is working at the start of each new tenancy.
• Repair or replace alarms if they are notified of a fault by the tenant.

These requirements are set out in the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022.^[1]

Which Appliances Count?

A fixed combustion appliance is anything powered by burning fuel, such as:

• Gas or oil boilers
• Open fireplaces or wood-burning stoves
• Heaters (excluding appliances solely for cooking, like gas ovens)

For example, if your rented flat has a gas boiler in the kitchen, your landlord must provide a carbon monoxide alarm in that room, even if you don’t use the boiler directly.

Types and Placement of Alarms

There is no law specifying the brand, but the alarm must comply with British Standards (BS EN 50291). It should be placed in the room with the appliance, ideally at head height and at least 1–3 metres away from the appliance.

What If My Home Doesn’t Have the Required Alarm?

If you believe a required carbon monoxide alarm is not fitted or isn’t working, you should:

• Notify your landlord or letting agent in writing (email is fine for a record).
• If they do not act promptly, contact your local council’s Environmental Health department.

Reporting and Enforcement: Practical Steps

• Step 1: Write to your landlord/letting agent requesting the alarm.
• Step 2: If no response within a reasonable time (usually 14 days), contact the council using their online service or in-person.
• Step 3: The council may serve a remedial notice on the landlord, ordering them to supply the alarm.

Relevant Forms and How to Use Them

• Remedial Notice (No Form Number)
  • Used by councils to instruct landlords to fit/repair alarms.
  • If your council confirms they’re issuing this, expect the landlord to comply quickly.
  • See the official guidance for local authorities.

If enforcement is needed, complaints are managed locally rather than by a central national tribunal. However, the official tribunal for other private rented sector disputes in England is the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber).^[2]

Your Rights Under Current Tenancy Law

All private and social renters in England benefit from this protection, regardless of tenancy type. The rules are founded on the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (especially section 11 on repairs) and the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations.^[1][3]

Remember: Your landlord cannot evict you simply for requesting work to meet safety regulations. This is protected in law.

FAQ: Carbon Monoxide Alarms and Rented Homes

1. Do all rented properties in England need carbon monoxide alarms?
   Not all. You need an alarm only in living spaces with a fixed combustion appliance, except those solely used for cooking.
2. Who is responsible for testing, replacing, or repairing carbon monoxide alarms?
   The landlord must ensure alarms are working at the start of each tenancy and respond to any tenant reports that the alarm is faulty.
3. Can I install my own alarm if my landlord refuses?
   You can buy your own alarm, but your landlord is still legally responsible for providing one if it’s required. Alert your council if the landlord fails to comply.
4. What if my alarm keeps beeping or is faulty?
   Notify your landlord in writing immediately. They are required to repair or replace it once they’ve been informed.
5. Are landlords allowed to charge tenants for installing an alarm?
   No, landlords must pay for alarms and their installation where the law says one is required.

Key Takeaways

• In England, landlords must provide a carbon monoxide alarm in every living room with a fixed combustion appliance (excluding those just for cooking).
• Landlords are responsible for checking alarms at the start of new tenancies and repairing or replacing them if faults are reported.
• If your landlord fails to install or maintain the alarm, contact your local council for enforcement and support.

This safety requirement is an important part of your rights as a tenant in England.

Need Help? Resources for Renters

• Private Renting: Your Rights and Responsibilities (Gov.uk)
• Landlord Repairs Responsibilities (Shelter England)
• Council Repairs and Local Authority Support
• First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) for other tenancy disputes
• Your local council Environmental Health team: Find details on your council’s website through this government directory.

1. [1] Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022
2. [2] First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) — official site
3. [3] Landlord and Tenant Act 1985