Scotland's smoke, heat and CO alarm rules explained

The short version

Since February 2022, every home in Scotland — owned or rented — must have interlinked fire alarms. Interlinked means that when one alarm goes off, they all go off, so you'll hear it wherever you are in the house.

Which alarms you need

The standard requires:

1. 1One smoke alarm in the room you spend most of the day in, usually the living room.
2. 2One smoke alarm in every hallway and landing.
3. 3One heat alarm in the kitchen (smoke alarms there would go off every time you make toast).
4. 4All alarms fixed to the ceiling and interlinked with each other.
5. 5A carbon monoxide (CO) alarm wherever there's a carbon-fuelled appliance such as a gas boiler, open fire or wood burner, or a flue. The CO alarm doesn't need to be interlinked.

Battery or mains-wired?

Both are allowed. Sealed, tamper-proof alarms with a long-life lithium battery (usually 10 years) are the easiest option because they link wirelessly and need no electrical work. Mains-wired alarms must be fitted by a qualified electrician.

Whichever you choose, check the alarms work by pressing the test button once a month, and replace them when they reach the end of their life — the date is printed on the back.

Landlords

The same standard is part of the Repairing Standard for private rented homes, so landlords must make sure their properties comply. Rules can change, so always check the latest guidance on mygov.scot.