Bathurst Blog

Recent changes to the Residential Tenancies Act mean that Landlords or their Agents must check smoke alarms every year to ensure they are working.

From Fair Trading NSW website:

Requirements for landlords and agents

Where a smoke alarm is not in working order, landlords and agents must ensure the alarm is repaired (this includes replacing a battery) within 2 business days.

Landlords and agents must check smoke alarms every year to ensure they are working.

Landlords and agents must ensure:

• smoke alarms are replaced within 10 years of manufacture, or earlier if specified by the manufacturer
• batteries are installed or replaced every year (or for lithium batteries, in the period specified by the manufacturer).

Landlords and agents must give at least 2 business days’ notice to inspect or assess the need for smoke alarm repair or replacement, and at least 1 hour notice to carry out repair or replacement of a smoke alarm.

Requirements for tenants

Tenants must notify their landlord or agent if they discover that a smoke alarm is not working (this includes when the battery needs to be changed).

Tenants must notify their landlord when they change a battery in a smoke alarm or engage a licensed electrician to repair or replace an alarm.

 The different circumstances where a tenant can change a battery or engage a licensed electrician can be found on the link below.

https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-property/renting/new-residential-tenancy-laws/key-changes-to-smoke-alarm-requirements-for-rented-homes

At Raine & Horne Bathurst our preferred contractor for conducting inspections and testing of smoke alarms is SATS (smoke alarm testing services). At just $99, their annual service fee is very reasonable and provides peace of mind, knowing that you have working smoke alarms in the unfortunate event of a fire. For details, feel free to contact your property manager on 6331 6555.