Landlords can sign up for free smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors

New government legislation means Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has a limited amount of detectors to give away to landlords who must register before they turn up to collect.

From October 1 this year new regulations will require landlords to install a smoke alarm on every floor of their properties and a carbon monoxide alarm in rooms containing a solid fuel appliance.

They should also check alarms work when a new tenancy begins and repair or replace faulty ones if tenants notify them they are faulty.

To help landlords the government has given fire services 500,000 smoke alarms and 52,000 carbon monoxide detectors to distribute to landlords for free.

Station commander and fire safety manager Guy Munno said: “The benefits of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are well known and well tested. They alert those within a property to a fire or CO gas and give them extra time to call the fire service and get out of the building. By giving these free to local landlords the

government are showing their commitment to fire safety and protecting people’s lives.

To register for free smoke and CO detectors email [email protected], including contact details, a list of the properties that the detectors are requested for and the number of floors in each property.

The detectors will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

When landlords collect from the community fire station in Barker’s Lane, Bedford, they must bring proof of ownership for each property they are requesting alarms for.