You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles
Smoke alarms to become mandatory for all social rented homes
All social rented homes will be legally required to have smoke alarms under new regulations to be introduced, the government has said.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has today confirmed it will press ahead with changes to the law following a two-month consultation which launched a year ago.
Under the changes, social landlords will be required to ensure at least one smoke alarm is installed on each storey of a home.
According to the National Housing Federation (NHF), 95% of social homes already have a smoke alarm.
The change, which was a commitment in last year’s Social Housing White Paper, will bring the social rented sector in line with the private rented sector where smoke alarms have been mandatory since 2015.
Other changes will mean both social and private landlords must ensure a carbon monoxide alarm is installed in any room in a home with a fixed combustion appliance, such as a gas boiler or fire, excluding gas cookers.
READ MORE
Landlords will be legally obliged to repair or replace alarms once informed that they are faulty. However, testing will remain the resident’s responsibility.
Property owners will be required to pay for the installation and maintenance of alarms, DLUHC said.
On the timetable for the changes, DLUHC said it intends to bring forward legislation “as soon as parliamentary time allows.”
“We will ensure that the new requirements come into force as soon as practicable after the regulations are made,” the department said in its consultation response.
“As outlined in the consultation document, any delay to the implementation of these proposals could put lives at risk, and the support from respondents reinforces this view."
The changes will be brought forward through the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 and the statutory guidance (Approved Document J) supporting Part J of the Building Regulations.
Eddie Hughes, minister for rough sleeping and housing, said: “I’m proud that the new rules being proposed will ensure even more homes are fitted with life-saving alarms. Whether you own your home, are privately renting or in social housing, everyone deserves to feel safe and this is an incredibly important step in protecting those at risk.”
Will Jeffwitz, head of policy at the NHF, said: “We support this change. The safety of all residents is the top priority for housing associations.
“Ninety-five per cent of social homes already have a smoke alarm, which is higher than any other tenure, but we agree with the government that regulations should apply equally to private and social rented homes.”
A total of 161 responses were submitted to the consultation, including from social and private landlord representative bodies, residents, housing charities, local authorities, industry professionals and fire and rescue representatives, DLUHC said.
Sign up for our fire safety newsletter
Already have an account? Click here to manage your newsletters
