New law to protect tenants from gas leaks

New regulations protecting tenants from the risks of gas leaks will become law in October.

The purpose of the new regulations, which come into effect on Saturday 1 October, is straightforward - to ensure that private and social tenants are safe in their homes.

The new regulations mean that: 

• Registered providers of social housing must ensure that at least one smoke alarm is provided on each storey of their homes where there is a room used as living accommodation; 
• All landlords must ensure that a carbon monoxide alarm is provided in any room used as living accommodation which contains a fixed combustion appliance, such as a fireplace, boiler, stove, oven or heater but excluding gas cookers; and 
• All landlords will be legally obligated to ensure smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are repaired or replaced once they are informed and the alarms are found to be faulty.

Councillor Nick Mannion chair of Cheshire East Council’s economy and growth committee, said: “I am very pleased that this new piece of legislation is coming into law, as personal safety is the most important aspect of anyone’s living arrangements.  

“The first regulation referring to the smoke alarm is something that has been a legal requirement in the private rented sector since 2015, so although it is a new regulation, it is already a common practice for many landlords. It really is a case of ensuring that there is a level of consistency across the board. These new laws will help us to achieve that across the borough.”

The amended regulations will apply to new and existing tenancies and all relevant landlords must be compliant by Saturday 1 October. 

The government’s department for levelling up housing and communities has published guidance booklets providing information about the requirements, who they apply to and how they are enforced. The explanatory booklets are intended as a general guide to help landlords understand and comply with the regulations.