What is a smoke and carbon monoxide alarm acknowledgement?
Working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms save lives, and after a fire or CO incident the first question is usually whether they worked and who was meant to check them. A short signed record at move-in answers that clearly for both landlord and tenant.
This form lists where each smoke alarm and CO alarm is fitted, how they're powered and how they were tested on the day. The tenant confirms each one sounded and that they were shown how to test and silence them. It then sets how often the tenant tests them, who changes batteries, a firm rule against disabling them, what to report and to whom, what to do if a CO alarm sounds, and the landlord's duty to fix faults.
- Best for
- Move-in day at any rented home with smoke or CO alarms
- Signed by
- Landlord and tenant
- Records
- Alarm locations, power type, test method and result
- Length
- 1-2 pages
When to use a smoke and carbon monoxide alarm acknowledgement
- Adding an alarm check to every move-in inspection
- A house with a gas boiler or wood stove that needs a CO alarm
- Recording that new hard-wired alarms were working at a tenancy start
- Making clear who changes batteries in a battery-only home
- Reminding a tenant not to remove alarms that go off when cooking
What you fill in
11 blanks, then the name and email of each person who signs: landlord, tenant.
1 The tenancy
- Date the alarms were tested*
- Landlord or managing agent*
- Tenant name(s)*
- Rented property*
2 The alarms
- Smoke alarm locations*
- Carbon monoxide alarm locations*
- How the alarms are powered* hard-wired to mains power with a backup battery · powered by sealed long-life batteries that are not replaced separately · powered by replaceable batteries · a mix of the types above
- How they were tested* by pressing the test button on each alarm and confirming it sounded · by pressing the test button and using a test aerosol or test gas, and confirming each alarm sounded
3 Responsibilities
- Who replaces batteries* The Tenant will replace batteries in battery-powered alarms when they run low or the alarm chirps, using the type shown on the alarm. · The Landlord will replace batteries when told they are low. The Tenant will report a low-battery chirp promptly.
- Tenant tests alarms* once a week · once a month · every three months
- Report faults to*
4 Who signs
- Landlord signature and date · The landlord or managing agent who tested the alarms.
- Tenant signature and date · The tenant moving in. If there is more than one adult tenant, send a copy to each.
What the smoke and carbon monoxide alarm acknowledgement covers
- Alarms fitted
- Tested at the start of the tenancy
- The Tenant's part
- The Landlord's part
- About this acknowledgement
Using the smoke and carbon monoxide alarm acknowledgement, step by step
1 Identify the tenancy
Enter the landlord, tenant, property and the date you tested the alarms.
2 List the alarms
Write where each smoke alarm and CO alarm is, choose how they're powered and how they were tested.
3 Set the tenant's part
Choose who replaces batteries and how often the tenant tests, and give a contact for reporting faults.
4 Sign at move-in
Sign together on the day, on a phone or tablet if you like. FileIt timestamps both signatures.
Tips before you send it
- Test the alarms with the tenant watching, so they see the test button work and hear the sound.
- Check the replace-by date printed on each alarm; many need replacing roughly every ten years.
- Look up local rules on where alarms must go and who changes batteries before you fill in the form.
- Store the signed form with the move-in checklist in your vault, and repeat it at each new tenancy.
Sign it online in minutes
- Fill in the blanks. Names, dates and amounts go straight into the agreement — the preview shows exactly where.
- Name who signs. Tick “This is me” for your own part. FileIt builds the PDF with every signature, date box on the right line, and you can check or move anything before sending.
- Send it. Each signer gets a secure link and signs from any device — no account needed. The signed PDF, with an audit trail and a Certificate of Completion, is filed in your vault and emailed to everyone.
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarm acknowledgement: frequently asked questions
Does this form prove the alarms meet the law?
No. It records what is fitted and that each alarm worked when tested. The Help text asks you to check local rules on where alarms are required and what type.
Who has to change the batteries?
You choose between the tenant and the landlord. Some places put that duty on the landlord, so check local law first.
What if the tenant disables an alarm?
The tenant agrees never to remove, cover or disconnect an alarm and to pay the reasonable cost of replacing one they or their guests damage.
Can we sign it on a phone at the property?
Yes. FileIt eSign works on a phone or tablet, and the signed PDF carries an audit trail and Certificate of Completion showing when each of you signed.