When it comes to smoke and CO2 alarms in properties being rented or let out, including holiday lets, landlords and managing agents usually know their legal requirements.
The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations have been in force since 2015 and from 1 October 2022 are being updated.
In simple terms, these are that one smoke alarm must be installed on each storey of the building where there is a room being used as living accommodation. CO2 alarms must be installed in rooms used as living accommodation wherever there is a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers). They must also ensure alarms are repaired or replaced once informed that they are faulty.
However if you were to go and ask a landlord what is the replacement date on the alarm in your home you're renting out, you'd probably get a blank stare.
It is little known that modern day smoke alarms, heat detectors and CO2 alarms come with an expiry date. This are 10 years from the point of manufacture for smoke alarms and 7-10 years for CO2 alarms. Therefore even if the alarms in your property pass the relevant push button audible tests and even the more expensive controlled smoke/CO2 or heat release tests, they should still be replaced.
Why Have an Expiry Date?
FireAngel is one of the UK's biggest manufacturers of health and safety alarms such as smoke and heat alarms. They say on their website that, like any item, alarms degrade over time which can lead to reduced sensitivity in detecting heat or smoke.
This in turn can lead to reduced performance, so if there is a real emergency, you want to ensure your alarms are working to the best of their abilities.
There are two ways in which to check the expiry date on your alarms. Many modern alarms have stickers on the outside showing when it needs to be replaced by. Others will have the date stated on the back panel, so you'll need to twist the alarm off the ceiling to check. It is a requirement under British Standard EN 14604:2005 that expiry dates must be printed.
Keep up to Date With Testing
Even if your alarms are well within their 'use by' date, you should always ensure you regularly test your alarms. A push button test should be carried out once a week or at the very minimum, once a month.
Landlords should provide guidance to tenants on how often and how to test alarms in the property they are renting. If you own a property and holiday let it out but live elsewhere in the country, you can get a company in to do a regular test.
We are Valerien Property Services offer alarm push button tests for landlords and managing agents as part of our inventory clerk and property inventory services on the Isle of Wight. For £40 we test up to three alarms at a property (£10 each additional alarm) and provide a full digital PDF report which can be downloaded.
Just contact us on 07368838213 and we'll be happy to help you.