Each year, there are an estimated 50 deaths and 1,100 hospitalisations as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. In response, on 1st October, a new law went into force which will require landlords to install working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in all of their properties. The intention of the law is to address the insufficient protection currently in place for tenants. Tenants that live in properties that do not have either a smoke or carbon monoxide alarm are four times more likely to die or be injured in a fire.
Even though it will now be mandatory for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to be installed on each floor of a property, as a tenant, you may want to consider installing additional devices. A smoke alarm should be installed in locations where it will be most effective-like in a bedroom-on the ceiling away from light fixtures and walls. Similarly, a carbon monoxide alarm should be installed at about knee height in all bedrooms and near the kitchen if you have a gas stove. While you would be required to pay for any additional alarms, the ability to promptly detect any hazards in your home is invaluable.
Regardless of how many alarms you have installed in your home, it may be both prudent and beneficial to test the devices monthly. If an alarm is found to be defective, contact your landlord immediately to have a working replacement installed. If your home does not have smoke or carbon monoxide alarms installed, be sure to contact your local Housing Authority to report your landlord’s noncompliance.
For more information on how you can protect your home in the event of a fire, visit Fire Kills, a government campaign developed to encourage tenants to be proactive about fire safety. You can visit the campaign’s website at www.gov.uk/firekills.
