Non-Compliant Smoke Alarms

It's a bit cheeky but being a safety related issue where someone may be injured or the house burns to the ground, the PM may put it down as an emergency repair.

 

There are so many "should" references in this publication. You have to dig down so many layers to find the actual obligations for existing properties and it refers to the older standards (for now).

 

Only for houses built in the last 20 years. From consumer.vic.gov.au:

'Landlord's responsibilities
Smoke alarms must be installed in all Victorian homes, units, flats and townhouses. Landlords are responsible for fitting smoke alarms in rented properties.

Hard-wired smoke alarms with a battery back-up must be installed in all buildings constructed after 1 August 1997. Buildings constructed before that date can have a battery-powered smoke alarm.

Rooming houses (buildings where one or more rooms are available to rent, and four or more people in total can occupy those rooms) must have hard-wired smoke alarms; for more information, view our Minimum standards in rooming houses page.

For more information on testing, maintaining and replacing smoke alarms, visit the Smoke alarms page on the Metropolitan Fire Brigade website.'

 

The problem with this is that the old standards might be changed with current amendments. Unless someone here has a current copy or from the industry you're not going to know.

 

No mention of should in the legislation

Building code of Aust

 

Thanks all! Lots of great recommendations. FWIW, there is:
- One functional detector in the kitchen area
- An out of date detector in another section of the ground floor
- A 240v detector base (but no detector) on the ground floor
- A 240v detector base (but no detector) on the first floor

We have already installed our own detectors - we certainly weren’t going to wait round for the PM to get anything done. Fortunately we already have an extinguisher and blanket - I’m happy with the protection we have, but the PM have completely ignored their responsibilities. With a baby at home, we werent going to take any risks.

We’re now approaching two weeks since we sent them the Notice to Remedy Breach, so I think we’ll be contacting the RTA this week.

 

Thanks Wylie! I believe it is a QLD regulation. Detector must be functional and < 10 years old. There is a bunch of new legislation for new properties as well.

 

Awkwardly, the PM stated the property was compliant - contrary to the advice given to us by the technician. When the PM sent through the Safety Report, the property was noted as certainly not being compliant. This was validated directly with the safety inspection company....