Hello Tina,
In the UK, almshouses without communal areas need to follow the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 when it comes to smoke and heat detectors. These rules say there must be at least one smoke alarm on every floor of a property where there’s a room used as living space. If there’s a fixed appliance like a wood burner or gas heater (not including gas cookers), a carbon monoxide alarm is also required. Almshouses with self-contained units are treated like individual homes, so it’s the responsibility of the trustees to make sure the rules are followed.
Smoke alarms are the main requirement because theyā€™re designed to detect fires early. Heat alarms, which react to changes in temperature rather than smoke, arenā€™t legally required but can be a good idea in places like kitchens, where smoke alarms might be set off by cooking. Theyā€™re an extra layer of safety but not essential under the law.
Christian
Lambourn Almshouses