A NEW law requiring every home in Scotland to have interlinked smoke alarms takes effect from today (Tuesday 1 February 2022)

The changes were put in place by the Scottish Government following the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

But opposition parties and safety groups have called for the scheme to be delayed and said the new legislation had not been properly publicised.

Concerns have also been raised about the availability of interlinked alarms and the number of households still to undertake the work.

Lorraine Gillies, of the Scottish Community Safety Network told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "I am not convinced that everybody who needs to know about it knows about it.

"We are also concerned about the cost attached to getting these devices and fitting them and actually being able to do that around about this time period, which kind of feels to me to be a bit of a push."

The devices must communicate with each other so that a fire in one room sets off alarms throughout the property, giving people more time to escape and call emergency services.

All smoke and heat alarms should be mounted on the ceiling and be interlinked.

If homeowners have a carbon-fuelled appliance – like a boiler, fire, heater or flue – in any room, they must also have a carbon monoxide detector in that room, but this does not need to be linked to the fire alarms.

There will be financial support for some to get the correct system fitted.

Older and disabled homeowners on low incomes can get help with costs. Meanwhile, private landlords are responsible for the fitting of them in properties.

If you are a council or housing association tenant, work is ongoing to make sure your home meets the new standards.