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New carbon monoxide regulations
The Smoke Alarm and Carbon Monoxide Regulations have been amended.
From October 2022, landlords are required to ensure not only that there is a working smoke alarm on every storey where there is a room used as living accommodation but also that there is a working carbon monoxide alarm in any room which contains a fixed combustion appliance except for gas cookers. This includes gas boilers and gas fires.
There is a new requirement to ensure that when a tenant reports that an alarm may not be in proper working order, the landlord must investigate and if the alarm is not working it must be repaired or replaced as soon as reasonably practicable.
Electrical safety standards in the private rented sector regulations 2020
These regulations apply to all new tenancies from 1 July 2020 and all existing tenancies from 1 April 2021.
Landlords are required to:
- have the electrical installations in their properties inspected and tested by a person who is qualified and competent, at least every five years, and
- provide a copy of the report to tenants, and to the council if requested to do so.
If the report requires any further investigative or remedial works, the landlord must:
- make sure the work is carried out within 28 days, and
- supply written confirmation that the work has been carried out, together with a copy of the original report, to each existing tenant and to the council within 28 days of completion of the work. These should be sent to the council by email to phs@lbhf.gov.uk
If the landlord is not able to gain access to the property to carry out the inspection and test, we recommend landlords document all attempts to do so and all correspondence with tenants.
Enforcement policies
The Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy can be read here Decision - Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy
Together with specific policies with regard to Financial Penalties for
• Housing Act 2004 Offences
• Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations
• Electrical Safety in the Private Rented Sector Regulations
• Energy Efficiency in the Private Rented Sector Regulations
Appendix 1 Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy
Procedures for establishing the level of penalty:
- Appendix 2 The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations 2015
- Appendix 3 Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) Regulations 2015
- Appendix 4 Electrical Safety Standards (Private Rented Sector) Regulations 2020
- Appendix 5 Housing Act 2004 as amended by the Housing and Planning Act 2016
- Appendix 6 Procedure for establishing the level of severity of an offence
- Appendix 7 Consequences of financial penalties and appeals