Smoke alarms

Most of our council flats are fitted with hard wired smoke alarms and we have a programme to extend the coverage of these and pending the completion of that programme, to provide battery operated alarms to other homes. If you’re a council leaseholder, you can contact the London Fire Brigade who can fit battery operated smoke alarms in your home for free, as part of their home fire safety visit service. Leaseholders who sublet their home must make sure smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are installed, as this is a legal requirement.

You should test your alarm weekly by pressing the small button marked ‘test’. If working correctly, the alarm will sound for 10 to 20 seconds then stop. Once a month it is also advisable to run a vacuum nozzle (if you can reach safely) over the alarm, to remove dust or cobwebs.

If you are unsure whether your flat has a smoke alarm, or you think the alarm is broken or it starts to ‘beep’ (this means the backup battery needs replacing), you should raise a repairs request to install or repair an alarm.