UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hi everyone,

I heard there's a bit crack down at the moment on CO alarms and I've been reading some horrible things!

"Every year in the UK, more than 200 people go to hospital with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, and around 40 people die." - eek.

I've had the heating switched off for the summer and will probably need to fire it up this week (held off as long as i could).

I wanted to share this site I found about the dangers of gas appliances in the home:

http://corgi-homeplan-how-safe-is-your-home.org/

It doesn't say however, whether landlords are legally bound to supply a CO alarm - I don't think I have one? It seems a reasonable request to make, but is it something I should already have?

Can anyone offer some advice on this?

Thanks, M

It's not a legal requirement... but every man and his dog would strongly urge Landlords to have one. The legal requirement re. gas and safety is around having a current Gas Safety Certificate in place for any gas appliances. I provide a CO alarm in every property... they are £12 from ASDA and can be claimed as an allowable expense for taxation. The batteries last 7 years.

You can ask your Landlord to provide / fit one for you, but they do not have to do this... although any Landlord that wouldn't I'd be wary of.

You say you don't think you have one... it should be easy to tell... there'll be this white or cream coloured thing hanging on the wall (they can be unobtrusive but they're not invisible) hopefully somewhere near (but not right next to) your boiler.

For the next property I am purchasing to let out, I already know it does not have smoke alarms fitted even... so I am contemplating the Nest Protect solution - smoke alarm and CO alarm combined, with various 'smarts'.

I let out just one property but have made sure it has a CO detector in.  I intend to go back every couple of years and test the sensor side of the device with incense - the tenant is responsible for checking the alarm/battery.

Good God this pisses me off. Typical Tenant attitude.

"I am worried my kids might die, but I'd rather ask the landlord, than spend £20 of my own money to put one up!"

Sake, take some responsibility for yourself, you're renting a house not a social f in care package.

It'll be the landlords fault when you dont change the battery or decide it will still work when you leave it in the garage because the beeping light interferes with your "soaps!

You'd be going top of the range by spending £20.