Smoke alarms: the rules and how to look after them

One minute a month. That is all it takes.

The answer in 2 lines. In England, landlords must fit at least one smoke alarm on every storey of a rented home, and check it works on the first day of each new tenancy. Owner-occupiers have no legal duty, but the government advises a working smoke alarm on every level. Test yours once a month by pressing the button, keep it free of dust and paint, and replace the whole alarm when it reaches the end of its life (the date is on it or in the leaflet). In Scotland, every home must have interlinked fire alarms.

The first 3 steps

Press the test button: the alarm should sound loudly.
If it chirps regularly, the battery is low: change it, or replace the alarm if it has a sealed battery.
Dust it gently with a vacuum brush; never paint it or cover it.

Stop: danger

When you are asleep, your sense of smell does not wake you: only an alarm will.
Never take the battery out to stop false alarms: an alarm without power protects nobody.

What the law says (England)

Private landlords: at least one smoke alarm on every storey used as living accommodation, and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance (except gas cookers). Alarms must be checked as working on the first day of each new tenancy, and repaired or replaced once the tenant reports a fault (2015 rules, extended on 1 October 2022).
Social landlords (councils, housing associations) have the same duties since 1 October 2022.
Owner-occupiers: no legal duty in England, but the government's Fire Kills campaign advises a working smoke alarm on every level of your home.

Where to fit it

On the ceiling, in the hallway and on the landing, close to bedrooms, ideally near the middle of the ceiling.
At least one on every level of your home.
Not in the kitchen or bathroom: steam and cooking cause false alarms. A heat alarm is better in a kitchen.
If someone at home is deaf or hard of hearing, ask your local fire and rescue service about alarms with flashing lights or vibrating pads.

Testing and replacing

Test once a month.
A short chirp every minute almost always means the battery is low.
Alarms do not last for ever: replace the whole unit by the date on it, or after about ten years if no date is given (check the maker's leaflet).
If you rent and the alarm does not work, tell your landlord straight away, in writing.

What not to do

An alarm in the kitchen or bathroom that keeps going off and ends up unplugged.
Keeping an alarm long past its replacement date.
Assuming the landlord tests it for you during the tenancy: once you live there, testing it is up to you.

Good to know

Scotland: since February 2022, every home must have interlinked smoke and heat alarms (and a CO alarm where there is a carbon-fuelled appliance or flue).
Wales and Northern Ireland have their own rules for alarms in rented homes: check the Welsh Government (Renting Homes) or nidirect guidance.
Many fire and rescue services in England offer free home fire safety visits, and sometimes free alarms, especially for older or vulnerable people.

Before the clocks go back, Oliver, who rents a terraced house in Birmingham, tests the two alarms on the hallway ceilings. The upstairs one stays silent even with a new battery. He emails his landlord the same day, who replaces it within the week.

A made-up story, for illustration.

Bobby

Sources, verification, confidence

Verified on 18 October 2026, for England. Confidence: high for the rules on rented homes in England and for Scotland's interlinked alarm law; Wales and Northern Ireland are not detailed; medium for the ten-year lifespan, which depends on the model. This guide describes common cases, not a diagnosis.