Did you know that smoke alarms have an expiry date?

Smoke and heat alarms (as well as carbon monoxide detectors) all have an expiry date. It’s something that’s easy to miss - but it’s crucial for safety and legal compliance. Let’s break it down...

How to check the expiry date

Detectors don’t last forever. Over time, their sensors degrade, meaning they may not detect smoke or heat reliably. Most detectors clearly display their expiry date on the back or side of the unit, but you – or someone you instruct to attend – may need to unscrew the head to reveal it.

What the law says

Under The Renting Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) (Wales) Regulations 2022, landlords must ensure that "During each period of occupation, there is a smoke alarm on each storey of the dwelling, and it must be in repair and proper working order."

In addition, guidance used by local authorities, fire services and fire risk assessors (Section 32.5, LACORS, 2009) states that:

All detectors should be tested at least once a year to ensure they respond to smoke.
Grade A systems (those with a control panel) should be serviced every six months.
Servicing and testing of all systems should be completed by a specialist alarm engineer.
Testing must meet the standards set out in the relevant British Standard: BS 5839: Part 1, Section 6.

Where expiry dates come into this

If a detector has passed its expiry date, it becomes very difficult to argue that it is still in the "proper working order" required by the legislation, particularly when the manufacturer has clearly marked the unit as expired. If a local authority or the fire service queries it, landlords could find themselves in a very tricky position, especially if there's been a serious incident.

The best way to stay covered

We highly recommend that a qualified person carries out 6 or 12-monthly inspections (depending on system type) and issues a Fire Detection and Fire Alarm System Inspection and Servicing Report. This certifies that the system has been inspected, serviced, is working as it should be, and detectors are in-date.

At CPS Homes, we have trusted connections with local, qualified trades who can get your report issued quickly and professionally, all for a very reasonable cost due to the amount of work we issue to them.

If you are a landlord in Cardiff and want to learn more about this benefit offered exclusively to our managed clients, get in touch with us today on 02920 668585 or lettings@cpshomes.co.uk.

Further support

We've put together a full compliance section on our website if you’d like to know more about smoke alarm requirements, testing, and landlord responsibilities in Wales.

27 January 2026

The information contained within this article was correct at the date of publishing and is not guaranteed to remain correct in the present day.

Back

Posts by date