UK Landlord Forum / Life

Having browsed some of the old threads I haven't been able to reach a conclusion on whether individual battery-powered ordinary smoke alarms are still ok in a small, one bed rental house in England.

One upstairs, one downstairs used to be fine but I have a sparky working there now, and he is telling me I need mains-fed interlinked alarms now. Is he right?

Many thanks!

Ask him to show you the legislation? Then it will be crystal-clear - no opinions whatsoever.

I've read the legislation and haven't seen anything that says smoke alarms have to be mains operated for an AST.

This is purely anecdotal but as an inventory clerk I power check smoke alarms when tenants move in and out of properties.  On several occasions I have been at a property at the same time as an electrician. On numerous occasions the electrician has made a comment about the battery-operated alarm not being up to standard for a rental.  When I asked if this was for HMOs, not once have they known what I was talking about. This suggests to me the electricians generally don't know the rules themselves.

There is no need for mains-fed interlinked alarms other than in an HMO.

Answer for England only in areas without local authority licensing only.

Thanks everyone. I thought this might be the case. I'll press him to cite the regulation if he persists in his assertion!