The benefits of having a CO alarm
An audible CO alarm will alert you to the presence of the poisonous gas in your home. Although no substitute for having your appliances serviced and checked regularly, fitting a CO alarm in your property is strongly recommended as a second line of defence against carbon monoxide poisoning.
Modern CO alarms are similar in design to smoke alarms (which do not detect CO) and can be purchased from around £15 at many major retail outlets including DIY stores and supermarkets. Before purchasing an alarm, make sure it is marked to EN 50291 and has the British Standards Kitemark or another European approval organisation’s mark on it. We do not recommend the use of ‘black spot detector’ warning strips – they are too easy to miss and won’t alert you if you have a CO leak when you’re asleep.
It’s advisable to fit an alarm in every room with a gas appliance – when installing and siting the alarm make sure you refer to the manufacturer’s instructions. Typically, audible CO alarms have a battery life of up to 5 years. If you’re unsure which alarm to get, you can ask a Gas Safe registered engineer for advice.
Why do I need a Co Alarm?
You can’t see it, taste it or smell it but it can kill quickly and with no warning.
From the 1st October 2015 all landlords will need to ensure their rental properties have:
- at least one smoke alarm installed on every storey of their rental property which is used as living accommodation
- a carbon monoxide alarm in any room used as living accommodation where solid fuel is used.
After that, the landlord must make sure the alarms are in working order at the start of each new tenancy.
What to do if a landlord does not install the required alarms
The local housing authority will be responsible for enforcing the regulations. They will be able to issue a remedial notice requiring a landlord to fit and/or test the alarms within 28 days. If the landlord fails to comply with the notice, the local housing authority must, if the occupier consents, arrange for the alarms to be fitted and/or tested. The local housing authority can also levy a civil penalty charge on the landlord of up to £5,000. Source .Gov
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