Why it matters
What Smoke Alarm means for a landlord
The 2022 amendment added a duty to repair or replace faulty alarms once told, and extended the rules to social housing. The check on the first day of a tenancy applies to every new tenancy, including a quick re-let, and the repair duty runs throughout. A dated photo of each alarm at check-in and a log of fault reports and repairs is the simplest evidence.
Worked example
How it plays out
Paul lets a three-storey townhouse in Bristol where the ground floor is only a garage and the living space is on the first and second floors. He fits a smoke alarm on both living floors, tests them on the first day of the new tenancy and notes it on the check-in report. When the tenant reports in March that the top-floor alarm keeps beeping, he replaces it the following week.
Common mistakes
Where landlords go wrong
- 01Thinking the regulations require a particular alarm type, when they require a working alarm on each storey with living space.
- 02Testing alarms at check-in without writing it down.
- 03Treating a report of a faulty alarm as low priority.
- 04Missing a storey that has only a bathroom or landing, which still counts as living accommodation.
What to do
A short checklist
- Check every storey with living space has a working smoke alarm.
- Test and record alarms on the first day of each tenancy.
- Replace faulty alarms promptly once reported.
- Check any HMO licence conditions for extra fire safety requirements.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Smoke and carbon monoxide alarm guidance
- legislation.gov.uk: Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015
Checked against these sources on 16 September 2026. A guide to the rules in England, not legal advice: for a dispute or a possession claim, speak to a solicitor.
