Government Confirms an Extension to the Regulations for Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Posted on December 3rd, 2021

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/domestic-smoke-and-carbon-monoxide-alarms/outcome/domestic-smoke-and-carbon-monoxide-alarms-proposals-to-extend-regulations-government-response#next-steps

The government intends to bring forward these changes as soon as practicable:

• social landlords will be obliged to ensure at least one smoke alarm is installed on each storey of their homes
• both social and private landlords will be obliged to ensure a carbon monoxide alarm is installed in any room in their homes with a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers)
• in any home, when a new fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers) is installed, a carbon monoxide alarm will be required by law to be installed
• landlords will be legally obliged to repair or replace alarms once informed that they are faulty (testing will remain the resident’s responsibility)

As soon as parliamentary time allows, the government will amend the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015. The regulations will be subject to the affirmative procedure and will need to be approved in both Houses of Parliament before they can be made. They will also amend the statutory guidance (Approved Document J) supporting Part J of the Building Regulations. They intend the new requirements to come into force as soon as practicable after the regulations are made. To avoid any confusion, both sets of requirements will come into effect at the same time.

The other recommendations in the consultation paper were concerned with updating the guidance documents on the placement of alarms and type of alarms to use. There was a high level of support in consultation responses for all these measures. They will update the government guidance documents to this effect and the refreshed documents will be published alongside the new legislation.

Article by gov.uk