Smoke and CO Alarm Checks

What does a Smoke and CO Alarm Check involve?

A smoke and CO alarm check is an inspection to confirm that the correct alarms are installed throughout a property, that they are in working order, and that they meet the requirements set out in current regulations.

The check covers:

• Confirming smoke alarms are fitted on every storey of the property used as living accommodation
• Confirming carbon monoxide alarms are fitted in every room with a fixed combustion appliance (such as a boiler, gas fire, or log burner) and in any room used for sleeping where there is a flued gas appliance
• Testing each alarm to verify it is functioning correctly
• Checking that alarms are appropriately positioned and not past their replacement date

A written record of the check is provided, confirming which alarms were inspected and their condition.

Why is it important?

Smoke alarms save lives. Research by the National Fire Chiefs Council shows that people are significantly more likely to escape a fire safely when a working smoke alarm is present. Despite this, a large proportion of fire fatalities in the UK occur in properties where the alarm was absent, had been removed, or had a flat battery.

Carbon monoxide is often described as the silent killer — it is colourless and odourless, making it undetectable without an alarm. Faulty boilers, gas fires, wood burners, and other combustion appliances can all produce carbon monoxide. Around 60 people die from accidental CO poisoning in the UK each year, with many more suffering serious health effects.

For landlords, maintaining working alarms is both a legal duty and a fundamental responsibility of care towards tenants. Documented checks provide important evidence that obligations have been met.