The heat is off

Deadline delay for linked alarm systems

New laws requiring all householders to install interlinked smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms are set to be delayed until February 2022 – which now gives home owners an extra year to comply.

Some Monklands residents only began learning of the forthcoming legal requirement in the past week when leaflets first started to drop through doors, with one householder contacting the Advertiser to express concern that people were being given insufficient time and information to arrange the fitting of £220 of new safety equipment in little over three months.

Alex Neil, the Airdrie & Shotts MSP, was also among those campaigning for an extension to the original deadline of February 1, 2021, saying the original “notice being given to homeowners is too little, too late” – and also says financial help should be made available for the work.

Housing minister Kevin Stewart has now announced that the Scottish Government will seek

Holyrood approval for a 12-month delay to the legislation, “due to the impact of coronavirus”, saying: “We have listened to concerns.”

The new legislation means every home in Scotland must have a ceiling-mounted smoke alarm fitted in the main living space plus in circulation spaces on each storey such as hallways and landings, as well as a heat alarm in the kitchen – all of which are to be interlinked so that they can all be heard throughout the property.

A carbon monoxide alarm is also required where there are fixed combustion appliances such as boilers, fires or a flue.

It extends standards already in place for privately- rented properties to owner- occupied homes and those rented out by councils and social landlords, with the law being put in place following a public consultation and review following the Grenfell Tower tragedy in 2017.

Property owners are responsible for meeting the new standard, and Scottish Government information notes: “We estimate that the cost for an average three- bedroom house will be around £ 220, based on using alarms that you can install by yourself without the need for an electrician for installing a hardwired alarm.”

Mr Neil told the Advertiser: “These new regulations have not been well enough advertised and the notice being given to homeowners is too little, too late. To try to do this in the middle of the Covid crisis would be a mistake.

“I wrote to the Scottish Government calling for a delay, along with a number of colleagues – and for financial help to be made available to those who cannot afford or are struggling to pay for the new alarms.

“The regulations are the right thing to do but they’ve got to be done at the right time. The people affected need much more information and advance notice of what they have to do to comply, and financial help also needs to be available.

“I will continue to look closely at ensuring people have the support, information and advice they need to make changes in advance of the new standards coming into force in February 2022.”

Coatbridge & Chryston neighbour Fulton Macgregor MSP also welcomed the 12-month delay, saying: “Given the impact of Covid-19 and the difficulties this was likely to cause for people seeking to install new alarms, it’s welcome that the Scottish Government has listened to concerns.

“Fire safety is an absolute priority for all of us, and these improved regulations will mean that everyone will benefit from the same level of protection, whether they own their home or rent from a social or private landlord.”

Age Scotland also shared “considerable concerns about the lack of public awareness, the ability for people on low incomes to afford the measures, and the short-term risk of scams and rogue traders” in relation to the original three-month deadline.

The charity called the legislation, affecting 1.5 million Scots homes, “a very important move to improve community and home safety” but said: “It has caught most homeowners by complete surprise – our helpline has been inundated with calls from older people seeking advice and financial support.”

Housing minister Kevin Stewart said: “Given the impact of Covid-19 and the difficulties this is likely to create for people

seeking to install new smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, we have listened to concerns and decided to ask the Scottish Parliament to delay implementation.

“If this is approved, we will

continue to work to spread awareness of the changes before the new deadline.

“Our focus will be on supporting householders to ensure satisfactory alarms are installed.”

Cause for alarm Some Monklands residents only began learning of the forthcoming legal requirement in the past week