MEDIA RELEASE

UK Association of Letting Agents (UKALA) urges letting agents to avoid potential problems as a result of pending carbon monoxide safety legislation.

UKALA has cautioned letting agents to act now to avoid potential problems following the announcement that the government intends to pass legislation to extend the requirement to install carbon monoxide alarms in all rental properties in England with fixed combustion appliances. Previously the requirement only applied to solid fuel appliances. Social housing will also be brought into scope for the first time, potentially putting further pressure on the supply chain.

Tim Clark, chairman of UKALA stated: “We welcome the new regulations, which will help to bring down carbon monoxide casualties and fatalities. However, there is a history of new legislation resulting in fairly chaotic rushes to comply. The number of properties affected has the potential to cause supply chain issues. We urge agents and landlords to act now to avoid the difficulty of having to source large numbers of alarms between the law being passed and coming into force.”

Around 20 people are killed each year in accidental carbon monoxide poisoning, and many more through house fires. The proposed regulation changes for England, which will be passed as soon as legislative time allows, will also require carbon monoxide alarms to be fitted when new appliances, such as gas boilers or fires are installed in any home. Additionally all landlords in social and private rented sectors will be required to repair or replace smoke and carbon monoxide alarms once reported as faulty.

More details are available on the UKALA website at https://www.ukala.org.uk/the-smoke-and-carbon-monoxide-consultation-ukala-comments-following-the-government-response/

ENDS

About UKALA

The UK Association of Letting Agents (UKALA) is a professional association that supports letting and management agent members to be successful, stay compliant and provide a high-quality service.

The organisation represents the interests of members across the UK, works constructively with various government departments and sits on many committees and policy input bodies.

UKALA membership fees are based on the amount of client money a member business holds. It offers to improve standards through professional development and makes compliance easier by giving automatic membership to both a government-approved Client Money Protection scheme and an Independent Redress Scheme. Membership also offers a range of commercial discounted benefits as well as advice services, publications, newsletters and documents.

UKALA is member-owned and run for the benefit of members. Membership is currently circa 1200.