Legal help, services and support for private residential landlords
A Government response to the recent consultation of the 2015 Smoke and Carbon Regulations has been released by the Government this week.
This consultation shows what the Government will add to the regulations. The questions below refer to the consultation document which gives greater detail on the Government’s plans.
Although no time frame is given as to when these policies will be introduced into the regulations, it is likely to be at some point in early 2022.
Below we look at the Governments response to the consultation which can be found here .
Question 17 of the consultation concerns the requirement to install a CO alarm in any room used as living accommodation where a fixed combustion appliance is used (excluding gas cookers), for both private and social landlords. In addition, it also concerns having a CO alarm when a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers) is installed in homes of any tenure.
The Government has agreed that this is a necessary step towards gas safety and this will be introduced into the regulations soon.
Question 10 within the consolation was on the proposal to amend the regulations to create a legal obligation for landlords to repair or replace smoke and CO alarms when informed that they are faulty.
The Government have agreed to this and will place a legal obligation on landlords to replace or repair alarms, once informed that they are faulty.
Question 7 of the consultation sought views on the best way to support residents to test alarms.
The Government in response will update the guidance document and include examples of how landlords can support vulnerable residents to test alarms as best practice. The Government has also supported campaigns that remind tenants to perform monthly fire safety tests.
Question 1 of the consultation proposes a requirement for social landlords to ensure at least one smoke alarm is installed on each storey of their homes is necessary.
The Government has written that they agree on this point and that this will be introduced into the regulations soon.
Question 3 of the consultation regards the updating of the guidance document as it has been perceived to be unclear and needs greater clarification in general.
The Government have admitted this is an area of the regulations which will need to be clarified soon.
Question 16 Sought views from local authority officials on any new financial or operational burdens the proposals would create on their enforcement function for local authorities
The Government has said they will consider cost planning as part of any new updates to the regulations.
These are the significant regulation changes for private landlords:
These will be added to the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide regulations 2015. In addition, the guidance document will also subsequently be updated with ways to support tenants with the upkeep of fire safety during the tenancy.
Note that the Government plans on adding this to the regulations as soon as practical. So, landlords will not have any grace period to get their property compliant. You are warned!
The full consultation can be found here
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Tessa Shepperson of Landlord Law is an accredited trainer with the
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