Smoke alarms in domestic properties

The NHF has responded to an MHCLG consultation on domestic smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

The government sought feedback on proposed amendments to the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 and Building Regulation (Approved Document J). They have proposed that the Regulations be extended to:

• Require social landlords to ensure at least one smoke alarm is installed on each storey of the premises on which there is a room used wholly or partly as living accommodation.
• Require that carbon monoxide alarms are fitted alongside the installation of fixed combustion appliances of any fuel type (excluding gas cookers).
• Require private and social landlords to install a carbon monoxide alarm in any room used as living accommodation where a fixed combustion appliance is used (excluding gas cookers).

We agree with the government that social landlords should be included within regulations. We argue that safety-related statutory obligations on residential landlords should be the same regardless of tenure. We see no rationale for the current exclusion of social housing from the regulations. We agree that more remains to be done, not only to remove unjustified distinctions between tenures, but also to strengthen regulation in all sectors.

The consultation asked a number of specific questions, to which we provide details which you can find in our full response.

Read our full response