What this guide covers
This is a plain-English summary of smoke and carbon monoxide alarm duties for domestic private landlords in England: what to fit, where, testing at tenancy start, and how to keep records. We also point to good practice and how LetCompliance can help you log test dates per property. It is not legal advice. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have different rules—check with your council, especially for HMO licences.
Smoke alarms: what English law expects
The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations (as amended) set baseline duties for specified tenancies in England. In outline, landlords must ensure:
Alarms must be in working order at the start of a new tenancy (and when replacement tenancies begin, depending on the facts). Local authorities can impose civil penalties for breaches, treat compliance as non-negotiable.
Practical placement: Smoke alarms are usually on ceilings in hallways and landings serving sleeping areas, and on each storey. Follow manufacturer instructions and British Standard guidance where applicable. Interlinked alarms are increasingly common in new builds and retrofits; older stock may have standalone units, both can be compliant if correctly installed and maintained.
Carbon monoxide (CO) alarms: when landlords need them
CO alarms protect against faulty or poorly ventilated combustion equipment. In England, the regulations focus on rooms with fixed combustion appliances (again, excluding gas cookers only under current rules). Oil, solid fuel, and gas appliances that fall in scope need an alarm in that living room.
Good practice beyond the minimum: Many landlords also fit CO alarms near boiler cupboards or utility areas if a fixed appliance is present, and document installation dates and battery types. Sealed long-life batteries reduce tenant “battery removal” issues.
Not a substitute for Gas Safety: A Gas Safety Certificate (CP12) is still annual and separate. CO alarms add early warning; they do not replace servicing and Gas Safe checks. See our Gas Safety certificate guide.
Testing: landlord vs tenant responsibilities
At tenancy start, the landlord should ensure alarms work (many landlords test in front of the tenant and note the date). During the tenancy, tenants are typically expected to replace batteries where user-replaceable, but the landlord must repair or replace faulty alarms when notified. If a tenant reports a chirping or dead alarm, treat it as urgent.
Suggested rhythm: Weekly pressing the test button where realistic (often cited in fire safety messaging), plus a record at check-in, renewal, and property visits. HMOs and licensed properties may need more frequent documented checks, see our HMO compliance guide.
HMOs, selective licensing and fire risk
Houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) often face extra rules: licence conditions, Fire Risk Assessments, escape routes, and alarm types (interlinked, mains-powered, etc.). A generic domestic alarm kit may not be enough for a large HMO. Always align with your council and LACORS / BS 5839 guidance where relevant.
If you already track Fire Risk Assessment renewal in LetCompliance, adding per-alarm notes and next test dates in one place reduces the risk of nothing being checked between tenancies.
Track smoke, CO and PAT reminders in LetCompliance
LetCompliance includes a Safety & PAT area on each property (after you sign in). You can add smoke alarm, carbon monoxide, and PAT / portable appliance entries with labels (e.g. “First-floor landing smoke”, “Kitchen CO”, “Microwave PAT”), last test dates, optional next due dates, and notes. Quick actions like “Log test today” help you build an audit trail without spreadsheets.
This does not replace statutory requirements or professional installation, it is a landlord workflow tool alongside Gas Safety, EICR, and EPC tracking.
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Related: PAT testing for landlords, 2026 compliance checklist.
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Every Gas Safety, EICR, EPC, deposit and Right to Rent deadline on one printable A4 page. Updated for the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.
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Frequently asked questions
How many smoke alarms does a landlord need in England?
Regulations require at least one smoke alarm on every storey used as living accommodation, and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance (other than gas cookers only, per the current English rules). HMOs and licensed properties may have extra local requirements, check your council.
Where exactly should I place a carbon monoxide alarm in a rental property?
Fit a CO alarm in any room used as living accommodation that contains a fixed combustion appliance. That covers: gas boilers, gas fires, wood-burning stoves, coal fires, oil-fired boilers and solid-fuel heaters. Gas cookers and gas hobs are currently excluded from the mandatory regulation in England — but manufacturers and the HSE recommend fitting one nearby anyway. Place the alarm at head height on the wall, 1–3 metres from the appliance (follow the manufacturer's spec), never in dead air pockets, behind curtains, or directly above the appliance.
Do smoke alarms need to be interlinked in England for private rentals?
No — interlinked alarms are not currently required by law for private rentals in England (this is a Scotland-only mandatory rule under the Tolerable Standard since 1 February 2022). However, interlinked alarms are best practice for HMOs, larger properties, and any new install — when one alarm sounds, all sound, giving tenants more escape time. Selective licensing schemes and Awaab's Law investigations may also push you toward interlinked systems on risk grounds.
How do landlords test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms at the start of a tenancy?
Press and hold the test button on every alarm on the day the tenant moves in (or the working day immediately before). Confirm the alarm sounds for at least 3–5 seconds. Photograph or video the test with a timestamp and store it in your tenancy file. Get the tenant to sign an acknowledgement that all alarms were tested and working — many councils now ask to see this evidence during licensing inspections, and it's your defence if a fire claim ever arises.
Do landlords have to test smoke alarms for tenants?
The law expects alarms to be in working order at the start of a tenancy. Tenants are usually responsible for replacing batteries during the tenancy, but landlords should repair or replace faulty alarms when notified. Good practice is to test on check-in and document it.
What is the fine for not having smoke or CO alarms in a rental?
The local authority can issue a remedial notice giving you 28 days to fix the breach. Failure to comply can result in a civil penalty of up to £5,000 per property (set out in the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015, as amended in 2022). Repeated breaches can stack across a portfolio. Tracking alarm install + test dates per property is the simplest way to avoid this.