A smoke alarm must be fitted on every storey and checked at the start of each tenancy. Although regulations don’t specify what type of alarm should be fitted, the best option would be for a hard-wired type so that the batteries can’t be removed rendering the alarms useless, however, stand-alone types are acceptable but it is recommended that models with a 10-year battery life should be chosen.

Every property with an applicance that burns solid fuel must have a carbon monoxide detector in the same room as the appliance. This includes opens fires, wood burners, agas and oil fired boilers.