Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless gas that can kill quickly and without warning. CO is produced by faulty or poorly ventilated appliances such as boilers, fires or ovens. CO alarms provide the best early warning for CO and will tell you whether CO is present. Just like a smoke alarm, they could save your life.

What Hosts Need to Do.

In accordance with the legal requirements for landlords, we stipulate that all homestay providers do the following three things before they are approved for hosting:

  1. Install a CO alarm in any room containing a gas boiler
  2. Install a CO alarm in any room containing an appliance that burns solid fuel such as a wood burning stove
  3. Obtain a Landlords Gas Safety certificate each year. More information about this is available here

We will check all CO alarms during our home visits and ask that all hosts provide us with a copy of their gas safety certificate annually. We also strongly recommend that hosts install CO alarms in any room containing a gas fire or other gas appliance such as a gas hob. Finally, we ask that hosts talk to all students who live with them about Carbon Monoxide and Fire Safety in the Home.

What to do if Your Alarm Sounds

  • Call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999
  • Switch off the appliance and shut off the gas supply at the meter control valve
  • Open all doors and windows to ventilate the room
  • Visit your GP and tell him/her that you believe you have been exposed to carbon monoxide