Compliance obligation
Typically legally required for a landlord — typically renewing on an ongoing basis.
Status
Typically legally required
How often
Ongoing
Under
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 (reg.4, as amended 2022)
Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarms is one of the obligations that typically applies to a landlord in the UK, under Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 (reg.4, as amended 2022). It needs renewing on an ongoing basis, and enforcement can follow if it lapses.
The full legislation: Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 (reg.4, as amended 2022).
Ongoing. Statutory duties (all event-based): a smoke alarm on each storey with living accommodation; a CO alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers, 2022 amendment); alarms checked in proper working order on the DAY each new tenancy begins; repair/replace as soon as reasonably practicable once told of a fault. There is NO statutory duty on the landlord to test alarms during a tenancy — in-tenancy testing is tenant-side guidance, and periodic testing (BS 5839-6) is best practice, not law.
Local-authority remediation notice (28 days), then a civil penalty of up to GBP 5,000 per breach.
Is smoke & carbon monoxide alarms a legal requirement for a landlord?
Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarms typically applies to a landlord under UK law, under Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 (reg.4, as amended 2022).
How often does a landlord need smoke & carbon monoxide alarms?
Ongoing. Statutory duties (all event-based): a smoke alarm on each storey with living accommodation; a CO alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers, 2022 amendment); alarms checked in proper working order on the DAY each new tenancy begins; repair/replace as soon as reasonably practicable once told of a fault.
What's the penalty for not having smoke & carbon monoxide alarms?
Local-authority remediation notice (28 days), then a civil penalty of up to GBP 5,000 per breach.
Keeval tracks smoke & carbon monoxide alarms against your actual premises, watches the renewal date, and keeps the certificate inspection-ready — free, for all your sites, no card.
Track it freeOther landlords & agents obligations
See the full guide →This page highlights the obligation, frequency and penalties that typically apply to premises like yours in England & Wales — general information to help you act on your duties, not legal advice and not a definitive statement of your position. You remain the duty-holder; take your own professional advice where you need certainty. Keeval is a trading name of Brenkon Holdings Limited (no. 16987530).