Commentary on Sections Nuclear decommissioning costs Section 150: Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
642.This section gives the Secretary of State powers to make regulations which introduce a requirement on landlords of residential properties to install smoke and/or carbon monoxide alarms in properties they rent out and to make checks to ensure that any such alarms remain in proper working order (subsection (1)). Alarms must meet the standard (if any) specified in the regulations (subsection (2)).
643.Subsections (3) to (5) enable the Secretary of State to make provision in the regulations about the enforcement of any duty imposed by the regulations, provision requiring a landlord who contravenes any such duty to pay a financial penalty and provision about procedural matters relating to the imposition of penalties.
644.The regulations may make different provision for different circumstances or for different purposes and may make provision subject to exceptions (subsection (6)). The regulations may also make consequential amendments to existing legislation.
645.Subsection (9) applies the affirmative procedure to any regulations made under section 150. Subsection (10) defines terms used in the section but this is subject to subsection (3)(a) which enables the Secretary of State to make provision in the regulations about the interpretation of terms used in subsections (1) and (2).