Guides › Rent and Deposits › Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms in a Rented Home
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms in a Rented Home
Your landlord must fit a smoke alarm on each floor of your home, and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a solid fuel appliance such as a coal fire or wood burner. They must follow fire safety rules and make sure you can always reach escape routes.
At a Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Alarms and Fire Safety
The Rules
Your landlord must fit a smoke alarm on each floor, and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a solid fuel appliance, such as a coal fire or wood burning stove. They must follow safety regulations, check you have access to escape routes at all times, and supply fire-safe furniture. Large HMOs need fire alarms and extinguishers. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- Straight awayReport missing alarmsTo your landlord in writing
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Check each floor for a working smoke alarm.
Step 2 of 5
Check for a carbon monoxide alarm near any solid fuel appliance.
Step 3 of 5
Report anything missing or faulty to your landlord in writing. Our free letter templates can write it for you.
Step 4 of 5
If nothing happens, contact your council.
Step 5 of 5
Test alarms regularly and tell your landlord if one fails.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
Your Landlord, in Writing
Always start here.
Your Local Council
If the landlord does not act.
Shelter England
Free advice on deposit claims and eviction notices.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Your local fire and rescue service may offer free home fire safety advice.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 13 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- gov.uk/private-renting/your-landlords-safety-responsibilities Checked 13 October 2026
- england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/tenancy_deposits/check_your_tenancy_deposit_is_protected/deposit_not_protected Checked 12 October 2026