Updated: 29 September 2026. Landlords in England have specific legal duties for smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms in rented homes. The rules apply across private and social rented housing, subject to defined exclusions, and sit alongside wider fire-safety and housing requirements.
At a minimum, relevant landlords must ensure there is a smoke alarm on each storey containing living accommodation, a carbon monoxide alarm in each room used as living accommodation that contains a fixed combustion appliance other than a gas cooker, and that prescribed alarms are repaired or replaced when the landlord is told they are faulty and the fault is confirmed.
What smoke alarms must landlords provide?
Current government guidance requires at least one smoke alarm on every storey of the rented property where there is a room used wholly or partly as living accommodation.
The regulations do not prescribe one specific alarm technology for every property. Battery-powered or mains-powered alarms may be appropriate depending on the building, other fire-safety requirements and the needs of the occupants.
Government guidance recommends landlords consider alarms that comply with the relevant British Standard and, where battery alarms are used, sealed-for-life batteries can be a practical option.
Where is a carbon monoxide alarm required?
A carbon monoxide alarm is required in any room used wholly or partly as living accommodation that contains a fixed combustion appliance, except a gas cooker.
Examples of fixed combustion appliances can include boilers, fires and wood-burning stoves. The exact installation should follow the manufacturer’s instructions and reflect the room and appliance.
Do gas boilers require a carbon monoxide alarm?
Yes, where a gas boiler is a fixed combustion appliance located in a room used as living accommodation, the current regulations require a carbon monoxide alarm in that room.
The exclusion applies to gas cookers; it should not be misunderstood as a general exclusion for all gas appliances.
Does a hallway count as living accommodation?
Government guidance explains that halls and landings can fall within the way the regulations treat rooms and storeys for smoke-alarm purposes. The practical rule remains that every storey containing living accommodation needs at least one smoke alarm.
Who checks the alarms at the start of a tenancy?
The landlord must ensure the prescribed smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are in proper working order on the day a new tenancy begins.
Keeping a simple signed or time-stamped check record can be useful evidence, especially for letting agents and portfolio landlords.
Who is responsible during the tenancy?
If an alarm develops a fault during the tenancy, tenants should report it to the landlord. Once the landlord is informed and the alarm is found to be faulty, the landlord is responsible for repairing or replacing it.
Government guidance also advises tenants to replace ordinary batteries where they are able to do so. If the alarm still fails, or the tenant cannot change the battery, the problem should be reported to the landlord.
How often should smoke and carbon monoxide alarms be tested?
The regulations require the landlord to confirm the alarms are working at the start of a new tenancy. During occupation, regular user testing should follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
For more complex fire alarm systems—especially in HMOs—the testing and servicing regime may be different from simple domestic stand-alone alarms. Read our Fire Alarm Testing in HMOs guide for that distinction.
What type of smoke alarm should a landlord install?
The regulations themselves do not require every landlord to use one universal type of smoke alarm. The choice should reflect the building, fire risk, local licensing requirements and the occupants.
For example, residents who are deaf or hard of hearing may need alarms with visual or vibrating alerts. Landlords should also consider relevant Equality Act duties where applicable.
Where should alarms be positioned?
The regulations do not specify an exact universal location for every alarm. Government guidance recommends following the manufacturer’s installation instructions.
As a general guide, smoke alarms are commonly installed on ceilings in circulation spaces such as halls and landings. Carbon monoxide alarms are commonly positioned at head height and an appropriate distance from the combustion source, subject to manufacturer guidance.
Do these rules apply to HMOs?
HMOs need particular care. Government guidance explains that unlicensed HMOs fall within the smoke and carbon monoxide regulations. Licensed HMOs are treated differently because equivalent alarm requirements are incorporated into HMO licensing obligations.
HMOs can also require more sophisticated fire detection systems depending on layout, occupancy, licence conditions and fire risk. A single domestic smoke alarm on each floor should not be assumed to satisfy every HMO requirement.
What happens if a landlord does not comply?
Local housing authorities enforce the smoke and carbon monoxide alarm regulations. Where they believe a landlord has failed to comply, they can serve a remedial notice.
Government guidance states that failure to comply with a remedial notice can lead to a civil penalty of up to £5,000. The local authority can also arrange remedial action in appropriate circumstances.
Smoke alarms are not a substitute for a wider fire strategy
Meeting the minimum smoke and carbon monoxide alarm rules does not automatically mean the whole property is fire-safety compliant.
Depending on the building, other requirements can include:
- fire risk assessment
- fire doors and self-closing devices
- communal fire alarm or detection systems
- emergency lighting
- protected escape routes
- HMO licence conditions
For blocks of flats and HMOs, the correct fire precautions should be considered as a coordinated system rather than a collection of individual certificates.
Practical landlord alarm checklist
- confirm smoke-alarm coverage on every relevant storey
- identify every room with a fixed combustion appliance
- install carbon monoxide alarms where required
- test prescribed alarms on the first day of a new tenancy
- record the check
- give tenants clear fault-reporting instructions
- repair or replace confirmed faulty alarms promptly
- review HMO and local licensing requirements separately
See the current GOV.UK smoke and carbon monoxide alarm guidance.
Fire safety support for London landlords
Primelinks Solutions helps landlords, letting agents and property managers coordinate fire-safety requirements across London.
- See our fire risk assessment service.
- For HMOs, read Fire Alarm Testing in HMOs.
- See our HMO Compliance Checklist.
- Read the Landlord Compliance Checklist.
- For London coverage, see our London coverage page.
Frequently asked questions
Does every rented home need a smoke alarm?
Relevant rented homes in England need at least one smoke alarm on each storey where there is living accommodation, subject to the exclusions in the regulations.
Does a gas boiler require a carbon monoxide alarm?
Yes, where it is a fixed combustion appliance in a room used as living accommodation. Gas cookers are specifically excluded from this requirement.
Who replaces a faulty alarm during the tenancy?
Once the landlord is informed and the alarm is found to be faulty, the landlord must repair or replace it.
Are HMO fire alarm rules the same as ordinary rental homes?
No. HMOs can be subject to additional fire detection, licensing and management requirements depending on the property and local authority.
Need fire-safety support for a London rental?
Use Get a Quote and provide the property address, property type, number of storeys and whether it is an HMO or block of flats.
This article provides general information and is not legal or fire-engineering advice. Fire-safety requirements depend on the property, tenancy type, occupancy and any local licensing conditions.