Fire Minister Penny Mordaunt has now announced a £3m government fund for rolling out life-saving alarms in the private rented sector.
The government fund will support the installation of 445,000 smoke alarms and 40,000 CO alarms across 46 fire and rescue authorities in England and Wales.
A survey by Honeywell recently revealed that only 36% of private renters are protected by carbon monoxide alarms and just 38% have carbon-monoxide emitting domestic appliances regularly serviced.
Landlords must ensure that smoke and CO alarms are installed in privately rented properties – on each floor – from October 2015.
Photo: Kidde Alarms
The alarms must also be tested at the start of each tenancy. Failure to comply will land them in the civil courts.
The measures could prevent up to 26 deaths and 670 injuries annually, according to government figures.
“Long time coming”
“Having backed the campaign for mandatory carbon monoxide alarms, we strongly welcome the news that all UK private renters will soon benefit from crucial early warning of this silent killer,” says Tim Jack, business development leader for Carbon Monoxide Alarms, Honeywell Analytics EMEA.
Barry Sheerman, Member of Parliament for Huddersfield and co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Carbon Monoxide Group: “This legislation has been a long time coming and while I’m pleased this will be put into effect, we can’t stop at just rental accommodation.
“Carbon monoxide poisoning is a great danger and I look forward to the day that all UK residents are protected by having detectors installed in their homes.
“This substantial shift in the Government’s stance on domestic carbon monoxide protection could pave the way for a wider requirement for life-saving, fully-accredited carbon monoxide alarms to be fitted as standard in other accommodation types such as new homes and social housing..
“Rather than wait, we would urge all landlords and homeowners that do not already have a Kitemark-certified carbon monoxide alarm in their properties to contact a Gas Safe Registered tradesperson and have one fitted.”
“This is very good news,” says Gas Safety Trust chairman Chris Bielby. “The Gas Safety Trust has been working with Liverpool John Moores University and Fire and Rescue Services on a carbon monoxide research project which will understand low level carbon monoxide exposure.
“We have been lobbying government and making the case for government intervention to increase the alarm population, so we are delighted that this has been announced. Well done to all those who have been involved in the campaign for this change.”
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What a waste of government funds; private landlords actually make money btw from tennants so why on earth should the tax payers be responsible to pay for smoke alarms and ensure their safety?
I Think this is a good thing for the industry the amount of properties that we do gas safety checks and electrical inspections on where we recommend carbon monoxide and smoke alarms is unbelievable. The dangers and hazards and this is taking a good step closer to saving peoples lives
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