Fire brigade bosses are urging the capital's private landlords to apply for free smoke and carbon monoxide alarms as new legislation is set to be introduced this year.

From October, all private landlords must fit smoke alarms on each floor of their rental properties and install carbon monoxide alarms in rooms containing fuel burners, such as cookers and heaters, or face a £5,000 fine.

The smoke alarm giveaway comes as new figures from the London Fire Brigade show that in the capital over the last five years when there has been a fire in a home, a smoke alarm was not working 41 per cent of the time.

In addition, while overall smoke alarm ownership in the UK stands at around 90 per cent, those living in private rented homes are far less likely to have a working smoke alarm.

Landlords are also being invited to apply for free carbon monoxide alarms.

Carbon monoxide is known as a "silent killer" and causes around 50 deaths nationally each year.

Assistant commissioner for fire safety Neil Orbell said: "The private rented sector provides homes for some of the capital's most vulnerable groups and there is no doubt that these regulations will make privately rented accommodation safer and save lives.

"We want to help London's private landlords meet their fire safety responsibilities under this new law and would urge them to apply for their free smoke and carbon monoxide alarms well in advance of the new laws coming into force this October.

"Tenants can also play a part in taking responsibility for their own safety by reminding their landlords about the new legislation if there are no smoke or carbon monoxide alarms in their home."

To apply for a smoke or carbon monoxide alarm click here.