The UK Association of Letting Agents (UKALA) is urging letting agents to act now to avoid potential problems following the announcement that the government intends to pass legislation to extend the requirement to install carbon monoxide alarms in all rental properties in England with fixed combustion appliances.
Previously the requirement only applied to solid fuel appliances. Social housing will also be brought into scope for the first time, potentially putting further pressure on the supply chain.
Around 20 people are killed each year in accidental carbon monoxide poisoning, and many more through house fires. The proposed regulation changes for England, which will be passed as soon as legislative time allows, will also require carbon monoxide alarms to be fitted when new appliances, such as gas boilers or fires are installed in any home. Additionally all landlords in social and private rented sectors will be required to repair or replace smoke and carbon monoxide alarms once reported as faulty.
Tim Clark, chairman of UKALA, commented: “We welcome the new regulations, which will help to bring down carbon monoxide casualties and fatalities. However, there is a history of new legislation resulting in fairly chaotic rushes to comply.
“The number of properties affected has the potential to cause supply chain issues. We urge agents and landlords to act now to avoid the difficulty of having to source large numbers of alarms between the law being passed and coming into force.”
Very surprised that CO alarms for gas appliances were not included in the The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015. Anyway, been providing CO alarms for gas appliances for years, but, must confess, treating the expiry date as a best before date as long as it still tests as working.
A Smoke and CO alarms legislation is a clear demonstration of where joined up thinking is not applied when drafting these regulations. I have come across a few alarms where there is no visible indicator, when installed anyway, as to what the alarm is. being familiar with alarm design, I feel I can tell the difference between a smoke alarm and, say, a heat alarm, the latter not being a specific requirement for letting, but there is always this nagging doubt, but I have no doubt a lot of people have no idea of the visual difference; as such, there should be legislation to make the type of alarm visible when fitted.
I also wonder how effective CO alarms are when incorrectly positioned, and whether legislation would make fitting/positioning based on the manufacturers instructions a requirement. I come across a few that are fitted right next to the gas appliance whereas it should be at least 1m away and on a wall not far from the ceiling.
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