Honeywell supports new legislation that is estimated to help prevent up to 26 deaths and 670 injuries annually

Honeywell has said that it welcomes recently announced changes to legislation making life-saving carbon monoxide alarms mandatory in privately-rented accommodation.

The Government has said that it will require all private sector landlords to install smoke and carbon monoxide devices in their properties from October. According to Government officials, this legislation is estimated to help prevent up to 26 deaths and 670 injuries annually.

“Having backed the campaign for mandatory carbon monoxide alarms, we strongly welcome the news that all UK private renters will soon benefit from crucial early warning of this silent killer,” said Tim Jack, business development leader for Carbon Monoxide Alarms, Honeywell Analytics EMEA.

“The urgent need for a change in legislation was highlighted in a recent survey sponsored by Honeywell that showed nearly two-thirds of all private renters in England and Wales are vulnerable to carbon monoxide poisoning because they do not have an alarm installed.”

Barry Sheerman, MP for Huddersfield and co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Carbon Monoxide Group, campaigning for carbon monoxide alarms to be a mandatory requirement in UK homes, said: “This legislation has been a long time coming and while I’m pleased this will be put into effect, we can’t stop at just rental accommodation. Carbon monoxide poisoning is a great danger and I look forward to the day that all UK residents are protected by having detectors installed in their homes.”

The survey, conducted by YouGov for Honeywell, revealed that of the private renters who acknowledged knowing what carbon monoxide is, only 36% have carbon monoxide alarms, and just 38% have regular servicing of their domestic appliances that can emit carbon monoxide.

“This substantial shift in the Government’s stance on domestic carbon monoxide protection could pave the way for a wider requirement for life-saving, fully-accredited carbon monoxide alarms to be fitted as standard in other accommodation types such as new homes and social housing,” added Jack. “Rather than wait, we would urge all landlords and homeowners that do not already have a Kitemark-certified carbon monoxide alarm in their properties to contact a Gas Safe Registered tradesperson and have one fitted.”

www.homesafety.honeywell.com