Wireless fire alarms for landlords and HMOs: the UK rules and where Ajax fits
In England, private and social landlords must provide a working smoke alarm on every storey used as living accommodation, plus a carbon monoxide alarm in any such room with a fixed combustion appliance (gas cookers excepted). For HMOs, LACORS points to mains-powered, interlinked Grade D alarms, with a Grade A panel in taller shared houses and bedsit blocks of three storeys or more. Ajax lists its FireProtect 2 AC alarms as BS 5839-6 Grade D1, interlinked by radio.
Below, we match them to the Ajax wireless fire alarms we list.
What do landlords in England have to fit?
The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015, as amended from 1 October 2022, cover private and social landlords. GOV.UK lists the duties:
- a smoke alarm on each storey with a room used as living accommodation;
- a CO alarm in each such room with a fixed combustion appliance, such as a boiler or wood burner, but not a gas cooker;
- a check that every alarm works on the day a tenancy starts, and repair or replacement of faulty alarms.
If a landlord ignores a council remedial notice, GOV.UK puts the fine at up to £5,000 per breach. Unlicensed HMOs are covered too; for licensed HMOs, Schedule 4 of the Housing Act 2004 puts similar duties into the licence, including a declaration on the alarms' condition and position when the council asks. The HMO Management Regulations 2006 (regulation 4) also require the manager to keep fire alarms in good working order.
Are the rules different in Scotland and Wales?
Yes: both require interlinking; England's regulations do not.
- Scotland: the Scottish Government says every home needs interlinked alarms: smoke in the living room (or the room used most) and in every hallway and landing, heat in the kitchen, and a CO detector (it need not be linked) in any room with a carbon-fuelled appliance.
- Wales: from 1 December 2022, Welsh Government guidance needs a mains-connected, interlinked smoke alarm on every storey, plus a CO alarm in any room with a gas, oil or solid fuel appliance.
Which fire alarm grade does an HMO need?
There is no single legal answer: it follows a fire risk assessment. LACORS wrote Housing – Fire Safety (2008, with the Chief Fire Officers Association) as national guidance for councils, fire services and landlords. Its benchmarks for normal-risk property, against Ajax's Residence Line:
| Property type | LACORS benchmark | Ajax Residence Line? |
|---|---|---|
| Single-household let, up to four storeys | Grade D, LD3, interlinked | Yes: AC alarms on a hub |
| Shared house, up to four storeys | Grade D, LD3 plus kitchen, lounge and any risky cellar, interlinked | Yes, with mains models throughout |
| Shared house, five or six storeys | Grade A, LD2 | No: needs a panel system |
| Bedsits with own cooking, one or two storeys | Grade D, LD2 in common areas plus interlinked heat detectors in bedsits; a non-interlinked smoke alarm in each bedsit | Yes, for the Grade D parts |
| Bedsits, three to six storeys | Grade A, LD2 in common areas plus heat detectors in bedsits; a non-interlinked Grade D smoke alarm in each bedsit | Only the bedsit smoke alarms |
| Flat in multiple occupation | Grade D, LD3 plus a kitchen heat detector | Yes |
LD3 covers the escape route only; LD2 adds high-risk rooms such as kitchens and lounges. LACORS predates BS 5839-6:2019, so check with your council's private housing team.
What do Grade D1 and F1 mean on an Ajax listing?
As Designing Buildings summarises BS 5839-6:2019, Grade D1 is mains alarms with a tamper-proof standby battery (D2 has a replaceable one), and F1 runs on tamper-proof batteries alone (F2 on user-replaceable batteries).
- FireProtect 2 AC: mains with a sealed backup battery. Ajax lists the FireProtect 2 AC (Heat/Smoke) as Grade D1, to BS EN 14604, with BSI Kitemark KM 797639.
- FireProtect 2 SB: sealed lithium batteries rated for 10 years. Ajax lists the FireProtect 2 SB (Heat) as Grade F1 and to BS 5446-2, which suits a single let in England more than an HMO.
- FireProtect 2 RB: replaceable CR123A batteries; Ajax shows no BS 5839-6 grade for these.
How do wireless alarms interlink without cables?
FireProtect 2 alarms join an Ajax hub over Jeweller radio:
- Through the hub: every detector sounds within 20 seconds, for up to 200 detectors.
- Fallback (AC models only): if the hub drops out, detectors pass the alarm on in about a minute, for up to 50 detectors, on current firmware.
- Range: up to 1,700 m to the hub in open space (1,500 m for the AC CO alarm); walls cut that, and a ReX 2 range extender covers bigger buildings.
- Supervision: the hub reports a lost detector within 15 minutes, and any alarm pulled off its mounting plate.
A qualified electrician still wires each AC alarm to the mains (LACORS notes Grade D alarms can use the lighting circuit), but no interlink cable is needed.
Which Ajax features help in a shared house?
- Interconnected alarm delay: 0 to 5 minutes. Only the first alarm sounds; the rest join if it is still detecting when the delay ends, senses another hazard, or a second detector triggers. Agree any delay with your fire risk assessor.
- Groups per flat or room: users can silence alarms only in groups they can access, so one tenant cannot mute a neighbour's flat. The Hub 2 Plus handles 25 groups and 200 devices; the Hub 2 (2G) panel handles 9 and 100.
- Remote checks: the app shows faults, low battery and end-of-life warnings, and runs detector tests.
- Call point: Ajax's wireless ManualCallPoint (Red) sets off the interlinked alarm, has a lid against accidental presses and resets with a key. We don't list it; see the Ajax fire alarms we stock. Ajax says it works with photo detectors such as the MotionCam U (PhOD); photos of communal areas fall under the ICO's video surveillance guidance, which expects transparency, so tell tenants first.
The same hub can also run an Ajax intruder alarm.
What does an Ajax set-up cost?
Our prices include VAT, delivery is extra, and prices can change:
- FireProtect 2 AC (Heat/Smoke): £80.77
- FireProtect 2 AC (Heat/Smoke/CO): £105.00
- FireProtect 2 AC (CO) alarm: £95.76
- FireProtect 2 SB (Heat): £111.93
- Hub 2 (2G): £161.53; Hub 2 Plus: £268.10; ReX 2: £158.07
Worked example: a two-storey single-household let in England. Hub 2 (2G), AC (Heat/Smoke) alarms in the hall and on the landing, and an AC (CO) alarm in the kitchen with the boiler: £418.83 inc VAT, before delivery and the electrician.
Our take
The Residence Line suits the Grade D rows of the LACORS table: mains alarms with sealed backup, radio interlink and per-flat silencing. It is not a Grade A system, so bedsit blocks of three storeys or more still need a panel in the common parts; see our wider fire alarm range and ask a fire alarm company. One gap: our only heat-only FireProtect 2 is the SB version, rated F1, so ask us before ordering if your HMO needs a mains kitchen heat alarm. Everything we list from Ajax is on the brand page.
We're a Wolverhampton security equipment supplier, trading since 2012. We don't fit alarms, but we can match Ajax models to your property and recommend a qualified installer depending on the job and area. Call 01902 902251 or contact us online. We ship nationally to England, Scotland and Wales.
Quick questions
Do landlords in England have to interlink smoke alarms?
The England regulations ask for a working alarm on each storey, not interlinking. LACORS benchmarks for HMOs are interlinked, and Scotland and Wales require it.
Can I use battery smoke alarms in an HMO?
Not as the main system: LACORS does not recommend battery-only Grade F systems in HMOs.
Do FireProtect 2 alarms work without a hub?
Yes: each has an 85 dB sounder, and AC models can interlink without a hub through fallback. App alerts and remote tests need a hub.
Do Ajax alarms meet the Welsh rules?
The mains-powered AC models can, interlinked through the hub; the sealed-battery SB models cannot. Check with your council.
How often should HMO alarms be tested?
LACORS suggests testing Grade D alarms monthly with the test button.
Source: Ajax Systems blog; GOV.UK; Housing Act 2004, Schedule 4; HMO Management Regulations 2006; LACORS; Scottish Government; Welsh Government; Designing Buildings; ICO.
