The start of winter and the cold weather means an increase in house fires. NSW Legislation requires Smoke Alarms be fitted in all residential properties.
For Homeowners
NSW legislation requires smoke alarms be installed on every level of your home.
This includes owner-occupied homes, rental properties, relocatable homes, caravans and camper-vans or any other residential building where people sleep.
These alarms must be placed in hallways near bedrooms; however, if bedrooms are in different parts of the house, you must have alarms installed in each of these locations. If there are no hallways associated with the bedrooms, alarms must be installed between the part of the home containing the bedroom and the rest of the house. You must have smoke alarms on all levels of your home even if there are no bedrooms located on that level.
For Landlords
According to NSW legislation, neither the landlord nor the tenant are permitted to remove or interfere with the operation of a smoke alarm fitted in the rented premises.
Where a smoke alarm has a replaceable battery, the landlord must put a new battery in at the commencement of a tenancy.
After the tenancy begins, the tenant is responsible for replacing the battery, if needed, in battery-operated smoke alarms. Hard-wired smoke alarm back-up batteries are to be replaced by the landlord.
The condition report section of the tenancy agreement must include 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.
How Can Your Property Manager Help?
At this time of year, our Property Management team review your properties to make sure the smoke alarms are compliant and up-to-date. Our Property Managers will touch base with those Landlords not currently utilising an annual service with either a preferred electrician or Smoke Alarms Australia. If you have any questions about your property or a new property you are adding to your portfolio contact your Property Manager. For FAQs click here
