Reminder to Check Smoke Alarms

Smoke Alarms - The Facts!

Smoke alarms have no doubt proven to save lives, however all too often we hear on the news about yet another house fire with a fatality, and the question of effective and working smoke alarms is repeatedly raised. In May 2006, the installation of smoke alarms became compulsory for investment properties.  As a landlord, are you honestly 100% aware of your responsibility when it comes to smoke alarms under the 2010 Residential Tenancies Act?

The Tenancies Act stipulates:

• Landlords are responsible for the installation of smoke alarms in rented premises

• Neither the landlord nor the tenants are, except with reasonable excuse, permitted to remove or interfere with the operation of a smoke alarm fitted in the rented premises

• It is strongly recommended and good practice, that the landlord put a new battery in the smoke alarm at the commencement of a tenancy

• After the tenancy begins, the tenant is responsible for replacing the battery if needed. Fire and Rescue NSW can assist elderly tenants or those physically unable to change a smoke detector battery

• The condition report includes a specific reference to smoke alarms so that tenants and landlords are able to note and comment on the presence of smoke alarms at the beginning and end of the tenancy

Landlords also have a responsibility to ensure that the smoke alarms are correctly positioned in their investment property. The smoke alarms must be positioned in every corridor or hallway outside of the bedrooms, and there must be a smoke alarm on every storey of the property.  We urge landlords to consider tenants’ lives are directly benefited by smoke alarms, so please ensure that not only is the best type of smoke alarm installed, but that it is also correctly placed inside the property. Fire and Rescue NSW is urging all householders to change their smoke alarm batteries when they change their clocks at the start of  Daylight Saving in October.