Carbon monoxide alarms required from July 2022
We recently brought you the news that, after six years in the waiting, Welsh Government will implement the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 on 15th July 2022.
Alongside a raft of other changes, for the first time in Wales, the Act introduces the requirement for carbon monoxide alarms.
The detail
The requirement for carbon monoxide alarms comes from the new Fitness of Homes for Human Habitation (FFHH) element of the legislation. It states one is required in each room containing a gas appliance, an oil-fired combustion appliance or a solid fuel burning combustion appliance.
This includes rooms with gas boilers and/or gas cookers, which is a notable difference to the rules currently in place in England.
Placement and maintenance of alarms
Smoke alarms are normally placed on ceilings because heat and smoke rises, but this isn’t necessarily the best place to install carbon monoxide alarms as the concentration of the gas could reach dangerous levels before reaching ceiling height. As such, carbon monoxide alarms are usually installed lower than smoke alarms.
Landlords will be required to ensure each alarm remains in proper working order, which includes noting its expiry date. Carbon monoxide sensors are typically more fragile than those within smoke alarms, so usually need to be replaced more regularly.
The consequences of not complying
Carbon monoxide cannot be seen, smelt nor tasted, but it can injure and kill quickly, so the worst case scenario speaks for itself.
Additionally, the legislation states that a property will be deemed unfit for human habitation if there isn’t a carbon monoxide alarm installed in a room which requires one, and rent will not be payable by the tenant for the unfit period.
Landlords have until 15th July to comply
Unlike smoke alarms and electrical safety certificates, which landlords are given a grace period to arrange in some cases, carbon monoxide alarms will be required as soon as the Act comes in, so by 15th July 2022.
We will, of course, ensure that the clients for whom we manage properties are fully compliant with the new legislation. We'll be in touch with all our managed clients once we've established the most sensible, cost-effective route to compliance.
Further reading
Want to know more? Head on over to the Renting Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) (Wales) Regulations 2022 or Welsh Government’s accompanying guidance.
Let CPS Homes help
We're experts on The Renting Homes (Wales) 2016 Act and are helping prepare landlords for the changes. By instructing us to manage your property, we will…
- Work with you to put efficient processes in place well in advance of key dates for new legislation and regulations, ensuring you and your properties are compliant, safe and legal.
- Save you the cost of a Rent Smart Wales landlord licence and the hassle of ongoing training.
- Maximise your rental income by ensuring the property is always achieving its full potential.
- Provide you with your own representative within our Lettings and Accounts departments.
- Produce a FREE professional walkthrough video tour and photography as part of our standard marketing package.
- Place you on our VIP Investor list where you'll get priority access to pre-market investment properties before they're listed online.
- Provide you with peace of mind via our Client Money Protection (CMP) policy, professional indemnity insurance, and redress scheme membership.
To discuss CPS Homes taking over management of your property, contact our Senior Property Investment & Market Advisor, Rhys Owen, today via rhys.owen@cpshomes.co.uk or 02920 668585.
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