Compliance
CO Alarm & Smoke Alarm Requirements for Devon Holiday Lets
The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 tightened the rules for England's holiday let owners. If your property has a log burner, gas fire or oil boiler, you are legally required to have CO alarms in the right rooms, and to be able to show you are testing them.
What the Law Requires
Under the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022, holiday let owners in England must:
- Install a CO alarm in every room with a fixed combustion appliance (other than a gas cooker): log burners, gas fires, oil boilers, and similar.
- Install a smoke alarm on every storey of the property that contains living accommodation.
- Ensure all alarms are in working order at the beginning of each new letting period. For holiday lets, this effectively means checking before each changeover.
- Repair or replace any faulty alarm as soon as possible after being notified of a problem.
Penalty for non-compliance: up to £5,000. Local authorities have the power to install alarms at the landlord's cost if a remedial notice is ignored.
Placement and Testing in Practice
CO alarms
Position CO alarms at head height in any room with a combustion appliance. This typically means the room with the log burner or gas fire, and the utility room or cupboard containing the boiler. Avoid external walls, draughty areas or positions near steam sources (bathrooms, kettle locations).
Smoke alarms
At minimum, one alarm per storey. Best practice is to have interlinked alarms on each floor so that all alarms sound when one activates, particularly important in larger holiday let properties where guests may sleep at a distance from the fire risk.
Testing and records
Test all alarms before each changeover and record the date and outcome. A simple log kept with your other compliance records is sufficient. If an alarm fails a test, replace it immediately and record the replacement.
Part of a Wider Compliance Picture
Alarm compliance sits alongside several other legal requirements for Devon holiday lets. Owners with a gas appliance also need an annual Gas Safety certificate (CP12). Properties need an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) and a fire risk assessment.
Acacia Property Care can check alarm coverage and condition as part of a wider compliance visit, so you are not arranging separate visits for each requirement. For a full picture, see our holiday let compliance page.
Common Questions
Are carbon monoxide alarms a legal requirement in Devon holiday lets?
Yes. Under the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022, landlords of rented properties (including holiday lets) in England must install a carbon monoxide alarm in any room used as living accommodation that contains a fixed combustion appliance (other than a gas cooker). This means rooms with gas fires, log burners, oil boilers, and similar appliances must have a CO alarm. Failure to comply can result in a fine of up to £5,000.
Where exactly do CO alarms need to be placed?
CO alarms must be placed in each room that contains a fixed combustion appliance excluding gas cookers. For a typical holiday let with a gas boiler in a utility room and a log burner in the living room, you would need a CO alarm in each of those rooms. Alarms should be positioned at head height and away from draughts, external walls and sources of steam.
Where do smoke alarms need to be installed?
Smoke alarms must be installed on every storey of the property where there is a room used as living accommodation. The Regulations require them to be in working order at the start of each new tenancy. For holiday lets, this effectively means checking they are functional before each changeover. In practice, a regular testing and logging routine is the most defensible approach.
How often should CO and smoke alarms be tested?
Alarms should be tested regularly. For holiday lets with frequent changeovers, the most practical approach is to include alarm testing as part of a pre-arrival check or changeover procedure. Every test should be recorded (date, outcome, who tested) so you have evidence that checks are happening.
What type of CO alarm is required?
The Regulations specify that alarms must conform to British Standard EN 50291-1. Combination smoke/CO alarms can fulfil both requirements if they conform to the relevant standards. Battery-operated alarms are permissible, but mains-wired or interlinked alarms are generally more reliable for properties that are unoccupied for extended periods.
What happens if a CO alarm is not installed?
Local authorities have the power to issue a remedial notice requiring the landlord to install an alarm within 28 days. If the landlord fails to comply, the local authority can arrange installation and recover costs, and a civil penalty of up to £5,000 can be imposed.
Not sure if your holiday let is actually covered?
If you're unsure what's current (CP12, EICR, alarms, basic fire info), start with a quick compliance check. You'll get a clear status summary and the next actions in priority order.
Download the Free Compliance ChecklistLocal Dartmoor & Devon properties only. No hard sell — just a clear view of where you stand.
Not Sure If Your Alarms Are Correctly Placed?
We can check alarm coverage and condition as part of a compliance visit. Get in touch to discuss.
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