Private rental properties | New requirements for smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms
If you let private property you should be aware of changes to the law that set the minimum standards for smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms.
Landlords and letting agencies will be affected by new regulations in the Private Tenancies Act (Northern Ireland) 2022. The new regulations will set a minimum standard for smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms in private rental properties.
The measures are designed to protect the rights and well being of tenants and aim to provide a clear framework for landlords, outlining their responsibilities in relation to properties and tenants.
New minimum standards for private rental properties
The minimum standards for private rented properties have been set as a:
- Smoke alarm installed in;
- The room which is most frequently used by the occupants for general daytime living purposes (normally the living room/lounge, except where the room includes an open kitchen); and
- every circulation space on each storey (hall, landing area);
- Heat alarm installed in every kitchen; and
- Carbon monoxide alarm installed in any room or circulation space which contains a fixed combustion appliance or a flue (that will include any bedrooms a flue passes through)
- Alarms can be either sealed tamper-proof or hard wired alarms
- Smoke and heat alarms must be interlinked.
Compliance dates
The new regulations came into force on Thursday 30 May 2024 with a lead in time applied for private rental landlords to become compliant:
- Existing tenancies granted before Sunday 1 September 2024 must comply by Sunday 1 December 2024.
- New tenancies granted on or after Sunday 1 September 2024 must be compliant on the date the new tenancy is granted.
This means all private rented properties must comply and install the required smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms by the compliance dates.
First published 6 June 2024