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LANDLORDS: UNDERSTANDING YOUR CARBON MONOXIDE RESPONSIBILITIES

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a silent killer, posing significant risks to health even at low concentrations. As a landlord, you play a critical role in ensuring the safety of your tenants. Understanding your responsibilities is essential to staying compliant and safeguarding lives.


What is carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible, odourless, and tasteless gas that is highly toxic. Without a CO alarm, it is nearly impossible to detect its presence until symptoms of poisoning occur, or worse, tragedy strikes. In the UK, CO poisoning causes approximately 40 deaths and over 4,000 cases of serious illness annually.
CO is produced when fuels like gas, oil, coal, or wood do not burn completely. Faulty or poorly maintained household appliances, such as gas cookers, boilers, hobs, water heaters, and gas-powered dryers, are common sources.
 

Legal responsibilities for landlords

As a landlord, you are legally required to install and maintain carbon monoxide alarms in your rental properties. While legislation differs slightly across the UK, all landlords must:
  • Ensure CO alarms are installed as per regional requirements.
  • Maintain or replace faulty alarms when notified by tenants.
  • Replace alarms at the end of their lifespan (typically 7-10 years).
 
Find the legislation guidance here.

Smoke alarms

Smoke alarms are required on each level of the home – hardwired or battery-operated, ideally with sealed-in batteries.


Kidde solutions:

 

Carbon monoxide alarms

Carbon monoxide alarms are required in any room where a combustion appliance is installed (excluding gas cookers).


Kidde solutions:

Smoke alarms

Mains, interlinked smoke alarms are required on every level of the home.


Kidde solutions:

 

Carbon monoxide alarms

Carbon monoxide alarm required in any room with a combustion appliance.


Kidde solutions:

Smoke alarms

Interlinked smoke alarms are required in every circulation space on each storey, and in the room most frequently used for daytime living purposes.


Kidde solutions:

 

Carbon monoxide alarms

A CO alarm must be present in any room that has a fixed carbon-fuelled appliance, such as a boiler, fire or heater (excluding appliances used solely for cooking) or a flue. This must be mains powered, or operated with a sealed-in battery.


Kidde solutions:

 

Heat alarms

Interlinked heat alarm is required in the kitchen.


Kidde solutions:

Smoke alarms

Interlinked smoke alarms are required in every circulation space on each storey, and in the room most frequently used for daytime living purposes.


Kidde solutions:

 

Carbon monoxide alarms

A CO alarm must be present in any room that contains a flue (including a chimney of an open fire that has not been put beyond use) and/or a fixed combustion appliance other than a gas cooker/oven. This must be mains powered or operated with a sealed-in battery.


Kidde solutions:

 

Heat alarms

Interlinked heat alarm is required in the kitchen. This must be mains powered or operated with a sealed-in battery. 


Kidde solutions: