LANDLORDS in Droitwich and throughout Wychavon are being reminded they are now required by law to have a smoke alarm fitted inside the properties they own or face a fine of up to £5,000.

The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 came into force on Thursday, October 1, and requires smoke alarms to be fitted on every storey of a property in which a room is being used wholly or partly to live in, including bathrooms and toilets.

The new rules have been introduced following figures showing nearly 40 per cent of fire-related deaths happen in properties without a working smoke alarm and give Wychavon District Council the authority to serve notice on private landlords. If they fail to comply council officers will legally be able to enter the property and fit a new alarm as well as impost a penalty fine of up to £5,000.

The new law also requires carbon monoxide alarms to be fitted in any room with a solid fuel burning fire. Landlords are also responsible for checking alarms are working before tenants move in.

Wychavon District Council’s portfolio holder for economy and housing on Cllr Richard Morris welcomed the new regulations.

“We are working with landlords and tenants to prepare them for the changes as part of our overall efforts to improve property standards across the district,” he said.

“Our advice to any landlord who has properties which do not already have smoke alarms installed is to get them fitted as soon as possible as there is no grace period and the new regulations will apply from October 1.”

Studies have show 17 per cent of private rented properties do not have smoke alarms and it is estimated the new regulations could prevent 26 deaths and 670 injuries a year.

Social housing properties, licences Houses of Multiple Occupation, houses with live-in landlords, long leases, student halls of residence, hostels, refuges, care homes and some NHS buildings are exempt from the new law.

Tenants are also being urged to inform their landlord if their property does not have working smoke alarms fitted and to tell them they must be installed.

If the landlord refuses they can contact the council’s housing team on privatesectorhousing@wychavon.gov.uk.