Communities and Local Government, give the following advice for those living in shared or rented accommodation:
If you live in privately rented accommodation, your landlord has to meet certain safety obligations under the law. This includes making sure all gas and electric appliances are safe and in good working order.
Your landlord must ensure that the property has at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home used as living accommodation.
Gas appliances must be checked by a Gas Safe registered gas fitter every year.
Electrical appliances must carry the British Safety Standard sign.
Your landlord must also ensure furnishings are fire resistant and meet safety regulations.
Your landlord must show you safety certificates so you can see when gas and electrical appliances were last checked.
Your landlord must ensure a carbon monoxide alarm is present in all rooms that contain a solid fuel burning appliance and are used as living accommodation. Landlords must test these and the required smoke alarms on the first day of the tenancy.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0