Is it compulsory to have wired-in smoke alarms in rented properties?

[glasjam]

Because I seem to remember someone saying that battery ones are better? We currently live in a rented house that has smoke alarms wired in to the mains and they are a monumental pain in the a**se! Even before we moved in the one in the kitchen had been deactivated because it obviously went off every time the oven was on. We lit some candles on Christmas Day and the dining room one went off (and wouldn't stop for ages).

We are moving again to a house that does not have them wired in but I get the feeling that they are going to start putting them in to comply with some tenancy law. I'd rather they didn't. Wondered if anyone knew for sure whether they were a legal requirement? (I'm in Scotland by the way)

I would hasten to add that we have a load of battery operated alarms which we put in every part of the house and check regularly.

Battery powered ones are better as long as you check them often and replace the batteries every year. In a fire the electricity could go before you get the alarm going. Get an alarm with a light too.

My landlord reckons they don't have to provide one at all There is one here as the previous tenant put it up, (and it works) so I haven't checked yet but I keep meaning to.

I rang up our local fire brigade and council about this. The answer is no the LL does not have to provide tem unless it is a hous ein multople occupancy liek student accomodation.

We fitted battery operated ones throughout our house that we rented 4 months ago. We also fitted a CO detector in the basement near the boiler - which is right under our kitchen.

Found this from Landlordzone.co.uk:

"The building regulations require that all properties built after June 1992 must have a mains operated inter-connected smoke alarm fitted on every level of the property.

Older properties do not have to comply but landlords would be well advised to provide at least battery operated smoke alarms in the property. "

Don't the mains operated ones have battery back-ups though? I would ring your local Fire Station, they are v helpful with this.

Agree with ringing beigade; one here willvisit and fit alarms for free

Thankfully last tenant of this house was a fire officer LOL, so feel relaxed about that

Yes ours is an old property - hence smoke alarms did not need to be fitted by LL.

Yes, my house was built in 1900 so my landlord was correct, I didn't realise.

Do you think it's worth getting fire brigade to come out and check my smoke alarm works properly? I have checked it with the test button and also by cooking and I'm not sure if they would want to install mains and battery operated ones because wouldn't that involve wiring in the ceiling?

Thanks all - that's interesting. The house we are moving into is pre-1990s so looks like the mains-wired ones are not necessary.

Yes ask your local fire brigade to come out, you can email thm too.
They came out to us, installed some new smoke alarms with extra long life batteries that last 10 years, for free.
They also checked the whole house for fire hazards and then let DD sit in the fire engine which she loved.
Also firemen are usually v hunky!!!

You should look on your local council's web site. They should have a section on private housing. You'll find all sorts on their concerning regualtions, however, if you're pre 1990, I don't think they are required by law. I would argue a point of "duty of care" to at the very least provide battery operated ones on each level.