How many smoke alarms are required?

gerry.slater65@ · Jun 30, 2017

Hi all.
I have a friend who is having trouble with her local council. Long story.
Although she rents it out privately, the council seems to have got involved through an allegation that the property was being used (unknown to her) as an HMO.
Anyway, it's now back as a private rental and run correctly.
My question is;
How many smoke alarms are required for this two bedroom flat?
I'm not sure on the current regs re this but the council seem to think that hard-wired alarms are required in both bedrooms as well as the hallway.
Is this correct?
Any help on this would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Gerry.

Andy78 · Jun 30, 2017

Hard wired alarms are not required if it is not a HMO as far as I am aware, but highly recommended.

The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015: Q&A booklet for the private rented sector – landlords and tenants - GOV.UK - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/smoke-and-carbon-monoxide-alarms-explanatory-booklet-for-landlords/the-smoke-and-carbon-monoxide-alarm-england-regulations-2015-qa-booklet-for-the-private-rented-sector-landlords-and-tenants

Specialist · Jun 30, 2017

Done loads of Detector installs for local authorities, both houses and flats. Never had to put smokes in bedrooms ever. Always smokes in all circulation spaces, heat detector in kitchen & carbon monoxide detector in all rooms with Solid fuel or Gas appliances installed.

Sparkie30 · Jun 30, 2017

Depends on the council, also depends if rooms are rent out individually, if so then you have to put a smoke in every room and heat in the kitchen and have them interlinked. Can be radio linked based.

Madocks · Jul 2, 2017

Depends, Ive done a loft conversion in my house and they insisted on hard wired interlinked alarms. Diff councils, diff rules

Octopus · Jul 2, 2017

You would have thought that the DCLG would come up with 1 set of rules that ALL the UK could then adhere to...................... but they don't so almost very Council has their take on such matters................... and dare I say it, a bit like the cladding fiasco.

ruston · Jul 3, 2017

Regardless of any regulations it makes sense to have safety devices like smoke alarms hard wired, and have back up batteries in them. From experience we all know what happens to battery only ones.