Carbon Monoxide - Get in the Know
What is carbon monoxide?
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas, which has no taste, colour, or smell. It can make you seriously ill and can kill quickly without warning.
What are the signs of a carbon monoxide leak?
Carbon monoxide is released when gas appliances do not have enough oxygen to burn correctly. Look outfor the following signs that could indicate that a gas appliance is not working correctly:
• floppy yellow or orange flame on your gas hob, rather than a crisp blue flame
• dark, sooty staining on or around your gas appliances
• increased condensation inside windows
• the boiler pilot light keeps going out.
Carbon Monoxide Regulations 2022
Carbon monoxide regulations
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarm regulations 2022 will come into force on the 1st October 2022
Both social and private sector landlords are legally required to:
1. Ensure that at least 1 smoke alarm is equipped on each storey of their homes where there is a room used as living accommodation (social landlords).
2. Ensure carbon monoxide alarm is equipped in any room used as a living accommodation which contains a fixed combustion appliance (social and private landlords).
3. Ensure smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are repaired or replaced once informed or found that they are faulty during the period of the tenancy.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarms become compulsory from 1 October 2022
New Regulations state, that all rented properties in England must provide a carbon monoxide alarm in rooms used as living accommodation where there is a fixed combustion appliance, such as gas heaters and boilers, from the beginning of October 2022.
The amended rules (Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022) include a new requirement to ensure when a tenant reports to the landlord or letting agent that an alarm may not be in proper working order, the alarm must be repaired or replaced.
The Draft Statutory Instrument was laid before Parliament on 11 May 2022 and once approved will come into force on 1 October 2022.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarm rules to be Updated
On the 23rd November 2021, the UK Government announced that the rules for domestic smoke and carbon monoxide alarms within all rented accommodation in England are to be amended.
Following parliamentary approval all landlords in both the social and private rented sectors will be required to repair or replace smoke and carbon monoxide alarms once they have been informed that they are faulty. The testing throughout the tenancy will continue to remain the tenant’s responsibility.
The key change to the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 will require landlords to ensure that a carbon monoxide alarm is installed in any room of their homes where there is a fixed combustion appliance, including a gas boiler. Where a new fixed combustion appliance is installed a carbon monoxide alarm will be required to be installed by law. Gas cooker appliances are to be excluded from the new rules.