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What is Interlinked fire alarms?
Last verified 31 October 2026
Interlinked fire alarms are alarms wired or wirelessly connected so that when one sounds, they all sound. Scottish Government guidance says every home in Scotland must have them, and the property owner is responsible for meeting the standard.
Why it matters to landlords
For a landlord in Scotland this is part of keeping a let home at the required standard. The guidance describes the alarms needed: one smoke alarm in the living room or the most used room, one in each hallway and landing, and one heat alarm in the kitchen. All should be ceiling mounted and interlinked. A home with a carbon fuelled appliance such as a boiler or wood burner also needs a carbon monoxide detector in the same room.
The page gives no private landlord specific wording, so check the Scottish Government fire safety pages and your council if your property is unusual. In England, the law sets out smoke and carbon monoxide alarm duties differently, with a smoke alarm on each storey. Wales and Northern Ireland have their own rules. If you hold properties across borders, keep a separate alarm record for each nation rather than assuming one standard fits all.
Example
Fiona lets a two-storey cottage in Perth. She has an electrician fit ceiling mounted smoke alarms in the lounge, hall and landing, a heat alarm in the kitchen, and a carbon monoxide detector beside the gas boiler. All are interlinked. She keeps the invoice and dated photographs for her records.
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