Non-Compliant Smoke Alarms

Hi Everyone!

We have been in our new rental property for a few months now, and it still isn’t compliant for smoke alarms. Specifically, old alarms downstairs and no alarms upstairs. The inspection wasn’t carried out before we moved in, and when it was eventually done, the PM failed to act. We have been calling and emailing the PM for a while, and just provided them a Notice to Remedy Breach form.
With kids at home, this has been a bit unsettling. We ended up installing our own, but our plans of a long-term lease aren’t looking good.

Any advice would be welcomed! Thanks!

 

If you want the property long term it may best not to rock the boat too hard

Unfortunately it's one of those situations. We don't live in a perfect world.

I was told never to order fresh oysters after abusing a chef.

But remember that revenge is a dish best served cold.

.

 

What exactly isn't compliant? Is the smoke detector more than 10 years old ?

 

Is this a queensland specific thing?

 

They need to be installed upstairs and downstairs and if they are out of date they need to spend a fortune going to the new standard getting them all replaced and interconnected

 

I thought the smoke detectors were supposed to be wired in and battery operated as back up now. I think safety should always be a priority. As for rocking the boat, it's probably time to start looking for another property and check this before moving. I guess having your own is not a bad option. The landlord, and property manager are taking a risk either way if a fire caused physical damage to the occupants and they did not address this.

 

I'd bring up compliance with the PM certainly, but in the meantime I'd go to Bunnings and just buy a bunch of smoke alarms; there are very good, inexpensive ones you can maintain yourself and they only cost perhaps $10 each. I'd pick up a fire blanket and fire extinguisher too. I wouldn't sleep in a house without decent smoke alarms, but my neighbour's house burnt down when I was a kid, so I'm a bit paranoid that way.

 

Nah, just smart! I feel similar due a bush fire near a child hood home. I never forgot how fast fire moves. Every time I watch new broadcasts of fire bush survivors you can guarantee they talk about how they could not believe how fast fire moves.

 

This one was just a house fire, but the whole place went up in maybe half an hour. Nothing to be done, and luckily no one was home. I think with modern furnishings fire really moves fast.

 

The smoke detector/ alarm could be hardwired and therefore would still be functional.

 

From memory, in Victoria legislation changed a number of years ago and Hard Wired Smoke Detectors became mandatory
Hard wired with battery back up.
So, any time a house sold or applied for any council permit it was required.
I've always had this done regardless, and advise it also.
I dont ever want to lay awake at night thinking "I should have"

 

They still need to be tested prior to a new lease.

From what I understand in QLD, is that they are phasing out old alarms that aren't interconnected as in going to the new style alarm where one alarm goes off and the other alarms are notified and sound off at the same time. They need to be in every bedroom also. So if you need any work done on your smoke alarms or you are renovating or building a new home, you'll need to go to the new type and It's about $800 for a 4 bedroom house to replace them.

 

In qld the law is about where the alarms are located and this house is already not compliant they must be in certain places, both upstairs and down. We have another few years before we have to have electric interconnected, with battery backup, unless the house was recently altered. So generally the alarms can still be the newish ones but really check the qld legislation. Previous threads on pc and somersoft about it.

 

@Chip - Qld specific requirements

This has applied from 1/1/17