To support private landlords meet their legal responsibilities and protect their tenants, City of York Council will be offering them training and handing out Government-funded equipment.

Proposed new regulations may shortly require all private rented properties, regardless of type or the number of tenants, to have a smoke alarm fitted on each storey of a property where there is a room used wholly or partly as living accommodation.

In addition, the regulations may require carbon monoxide alarms to be fitted in any room which is used wholly or partly as living accommodation and which has a solid fuel burning combustion appliance such as wood burning stoves and ranges.

Checks will also need to be made by or on behalf of the landlord to ensure that each alarm is in proper working order on the day a new tenancy begins. The landlord or manager of a property failing to meet the new regulations could face a fine of up to £5,000. Tenants will be expected to check the alarms regularly themselves.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has used a Government grant to buy battery-powered smoke alarms to give to landlords to help ensure tenants are protected and that the landlords are ready for these new regulations.

500 of these alarms will be available to collect on a first come, first served basis from council’s West Offices on Wednesday 16 September between 10am and 3pm.
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