Crackdown on smoke and carbon monoxide alarm safety

Landlords could be fined £5,000 for failing to provide smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

As part of a new crackdown by Plymouth City Council to keep private rented tenants safe, a new policy has been introduced, in line with the new national Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Regulations. The regulations require private landlords to ensure that there are working smoke alarms on each floor of the premises on the day a tenancy starts.

Working carbon monoxide detectors must also be present in all rooms with solid fuel appliances. Tenants will be responsible for replacing batteries although landlords will have an ongoing duty to ensure that the alarms are present throughout the tenancy.

Under the new policy, landlords will be issued with a Remedial Notice, if they fail to meet their obligations under the regulations and given 14 days to pay. Those that pay within 14 days will be given an automatic 10% reduction in their fine.

Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Cooperatives and Housing for Plymouth City Council, said: “This is all part of our work to make Plymouth a safer city. Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are a very simple but effective way of preventing incidents and could save your life one day.

“As part of our aim to drive up standards in private rented housing in Plymouth, the new safety rules will help protect tenants in the private rented sector. Landlords have a responsibility to keep their tenants safe so those who fail to do so will face a financial penalty.”

An executive decision was signed by Councillor Penberthy on Thursday 21 January and the new policy will be subject to call in for a week before it comes into force.

The regulations do not apply to housing where lodgers share amenities with the residential owner or member of their family, licensed houses in multiple occupation, housing where the landlords are Registered Providers, or some halls of residence, care homes, hospices, hospitals and NHS accommodation.

For more information about the new regulations click here.