The Department for Communities and Local Government said the move would prevent 36 deaths and 1,375 injuries each year.
The move will take effect from October 2015 and follows a consultation period.
Housing minister Brandon Lewis said England’s 46 fire and rescue authorities would support landlords by offering free alarms using government funding.
Lewis said the vast majority of rented homes already had such safety measures in place and now every tenant would be afforded the same protection.
“In 1988 just 8% of homes had a smoke alarm installed – now it’s over 90%,” he said. “The vast majority of landlords offer a good service and have installed smoke alarms in their homes, but I’m changing the law to ensure every tenant can be given this important protection.
“But with working smoke alarms providing the vital seconds needed to escape a fire, I urge all tenants to make sure they regularly test their alarms to ensure they work when it counts. Testing regularly remains the tenant’s responsibility.”
Communities minister Stephen Williams said: “We’re determined to create a bigger, better and safer private rented sector – a key part of that is to ensure the safety of tenants with fire prevention and carbon monoxide warning.
“People are at least four times more likely to die in a fire in the home if there’s no working smoke alarm. That’s why we are proposing changes to the law that would require landlords to install working smoke alarms in their properties so tenants can give their families and those they care about a better chance of escaping a fire.”
