In short
Fire alarms warn occupants of fire, while emergency lighting helps people leave safely if normal lighting fails. Requirements depend on property use, layout, occupancy and the fire risk assessment. Peachtree coordinates checks, maintenance and appropriate remedial work for rented homes, HMOs, shared buildings and commercial premises.
Rented homes and shared buildings
Frequency: System-specific routine tests and periodic servicing
For tenancies within their scope in England, the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 require a smoke alarm on every storey used as living accommodation and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room used as living accommodation containing a fixed combustion appliance, excluding gas cookers. Landlords must ensure the required alarms work on the first day of a new tenancy and repair or replace faulty alarms once informed and after investigating the report, as soon as reasonably practicable.
These minimum domestic alarm duties do not settle the full requirements for an HMO or commercial building. Fire risk assessments, housing standards and licence conditions can call for additional coverage and particular system specifications. BS 5839-6 provides domestic system grade and category guidance; non-domestic systems commonly use BS 5839-1. Emergency lighting design and maintenance commonly follow BS 5266 and associated standards.
British Standards are technical guidance, not a blanket statement that every property needs the same installation. Check current GOV.UK advice, local licensing conditions and local fire and rescue service guidance. The responsible person should ensure the chosen system and maintenance arrangements suit the building and its assessed risks.
Choosing and maintaining suitable alarms
Alarm grade describes the system's power supply and equipment arrangement; category describes the extent of detection coverage. They are not interchangeable. A competent assessment should consider escape routes, room use, building conversion and the occupants' ability to hear and respond. Replacing a detector like for like may not resolve an unsuitable overall system.
Record alarm locations, device ages, maintenance visits and reported faults. Residents should know how to report defects and should not remove batteries or disable nuisance alarms. Repeated unwanted activations need investigation because poor detector placement, contamination or an unsuitable device may be involved. Carbon monoxide alarms supplement safe appliance maintenance and ventilation, not replace them.
A practical testing schedule
Typical guidance for many communal fire alarm systems includes a weekly user test and specialist servicing at intervals commonly no longer than six months. Domestic alarm testing and servicing depend on the system grade, manufacturer and applicable guidance. Do not apply a communal panel schedule automatically to every standalone domestic alarm; document the appropriate regime for each property.
For emergency lighting, typical guidance includes a monthly short functional test, sometimes called a flick test, and an annual full rated-duration test. Plan duration tests when the building can remain safe while batteries recharge, and log failures for prompt attention. Peachtree can coordinate visits across portfolios and provide monthly consolidated invoicing for agents, while local routine checks remain assigned to a named person.
How it works
- 01
Review the property
Share the fire risk assessment, alarm details and logbook so we can agree the correct inspection or servicing scope and access needs.
- 02
Carry out agreed checks
The attending operative checks the agreed equipment, records results and identifies limitations, faults or concerns needing specialist assessment.
- 03
Issue the records
We provide relevant digital documentation and explain defects, separating urgent safety concerns from planned repairs and recommendations about system suitability.
- 04
Coordinate maintenance
We arrange authorised remedial work and help establish future visits, with routine user tests and reporting responsibilities clearly allocated.
Frequently asked questions
01Does every bedroom need a smoke alarm?
The basic rented-home rule requires a smoke alarm on each storey used as living accommodation, not automatically every bedroom. However, HMO conditions, the fire risk assessment or applicable system guidance may call for detection in bedrooms and other rooms. Establish the building-specific specification before buying equipment.
02Do I need a carbon monoxide alarm for a gas cooker?
Gas cookers are excluded from the fixed-combustion-appliance trigger under these alarm regulations. Other qualifying appliances, such as a gas boiler or solid fuel stove in living accommodation, can trigger the duty. A risk assessment or other applicable requirements may justify additional alarms beyond the minimum.
03Who checks alarms at the start of a tenancy?
The landlord must ensure required alarms are working on the first day of a new tenancy. An agent can arrange and record the checks, but responsibilities should be clear. Keep dated evidence and give tenants straightforward instructions for reporting faults during occupation.
04Is a weekly alarm test enough?
No. A routine user test does not replace specialist servicing or prove that system coverage is suitable. The required regime depends on the installed system. Communal systems commonly need periodic competent servicing as well as documented user tests, with faults investigated rather than repeatedly reset.
05What happens if emergency lighting fails its annual test?
Record the affected fittings and assess the effect on safe escape promptly. Repairs, replacement batteries or further investigation may be necessary, followed by appropriate retesting. The responsible person should consider interim precautions with competent advice rather than leaving an escape route inadequately lit until the next visit.
Last reviewed 20 October 2026. General information, not legal advice.