New rules have been announced today for all social housing homes that have a gas boiler or fire.
All social housing homes will be required to have smoke alarms fitted, and carbon monoxide detectors if the property has a gas boiler or fire.
Housing Minister Eddie Hughes MP announced the new rules today, which will impact on rented accomodation, to ensure that people living in social housing will be safer in their homes.
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The regulation changes will also require carbon monoxide alarms to be fitted when new appliances such as gas boilers or fires are installed in any home, and landlords and housing providers in social and private rented sectors must repair or replace smoke and carbon monoxide alarms once they are told they are faulty.
The cost of the new requirements to install and maintain alarms will fall to property owners.
Eddie Hughes MP, Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing, said: "It is fundamentally right for people to feel safe in their own homes – an issue I’ve advocated for many years.
"Around 20 people are killed each year in accidental carbon monoxide poisoning, and many more through house fires – but we know that simple interventions can stop these needless deaths.
"I’m proud that the new rules being proposed will ensure even more homes are fitted with life-saving alarms. Whether you own your home, are privately renting or in social housing – everyone deserves to feel safe and this is an incredibly important step in protecting those at risk."
The changes come about after a Social Housing White Paper was published last year, which set out proposals for wide-ranging reforms of the social housing sector to drive up standards, including giving tenants a clear way to raise concerns and providing the regulator with stronger powers to take enforcement action.
Jim Bywater, National Fire Chiefs Council, Domestic Detection Lead, said: "NFCC welcomes the changes which we believe will make many more people safer in their homes. We have campaigned for regulations to ensure that regardless of tenure, homes have adequate lifesaving detection.
"The new regulations will contribute to reducing fire and carbon monoxide casualties and fatalities and bring consistency and greater protection to those living in both private and social rented homes."
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