The installation of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in all rental properties, both private and social, is to be made compulsory.
Communities minister Penny Mordaunt announced the move at the Local Government Association annual fire conference yesterday, following years of campaigning, led by the Chief Fire Officers Association and supported by the British Property Federation.
The BPF said the crackdown was necessary to force the small number of landlords who did not install alarms in their properties to bring them up to standard. The English Housing Survey estimated in 2013 that 82% of private rented homes had smoke alarms fitted.
The BPF said that making the installation of carbon monoxide and smoke alarms compulsory will provide clarity to landlords.
It recommends that the obligation on landlords and their agents should be to ensure that there are working detectors at the time the tenancy starts. There should be an obligation on tenants, however, to maintain and test the alarms and to report any faults.
Ian Fletcher, director of policy at the BPF, said: “It is quick, cheap and easy to install these pieces of equipment, so making them mandatory makes sense.”
The measure is likely to take effect this October.