Everyone has been talking this week about the new laws which will require all homes in Scotland to have interconnected ceiling mounted smoke and heat detectors and, where applicable, Co2 detectors with a 10-year age limit. Initially, a deadline was set by the Scottish Government to have all in place by Spring 2021 and many will have received leaflets through the door. Cue a mass panic of buying of detectors and property owners worrying. Not only about having everything in place for the deadline, but also about breaking the law and potentially invalidating home insurance if there was an accident.
We have had several worried clients getting in touch to ask how they can meet the new regulations. Currently, there is no change for residential let properties as they already have the requirement to meet these rigorous standards. However many of our clients will need to look to their own homes and residential properties in agricultural tenancies to make sure standards are met.
In practical terms, the law will require private homes to:
• have at least one smoke detector installed in the room most frequently used
• have at least one smoke detector in circulation spaces such as hallways and landings
• have at least one heat detector in every kitchen
• have a carbon monoxide detector in a room where a solid fuel appliance, such as a stove or open fireplace, or boiler is situated
The Scottish Government has confirmed they will delay the deadline to have all in place until Spring 2022, giving property owners more time to plan ahead to meet requirements. There is a misconception that detectors have to be hard wired and will require major electrical works. In most cases, only one smoke detector needs to be hardwired and a system can utilise battery-operated units which interconnect.
Here at D&R we regularly advise our clients with a wide variety of tenancies from a single farm cottage to Estate wide portfolios on everything they need to have in place to meet regulations and requirements. We can provide advice on letting your rural property for the first time or review your current tenancies.
Contact Gillian Ferguson in the first instance if you would like to discuss any aspect of your property letting.
