Smoke alarms are one of the most important safety devices in any property, especially in rental homes, where landlords are legally required to protect tenants. In New South Wales, there are strict rules about smoke alarm compliance, and if you’re a property owner, it’s essential to understand your responsibilities. At Mclaws Property, we often encounter confusion around who is responsible for maintaining smoke alarms, particularly when it comes to strata properties. Let’s clear things up.
Smoke Alarm Compliance in NSW
In New South Wales, all rental properties must have working smoke alarms installed. Landlords must ensure the property has smoke alarms installed on every level of the home and near the bedrooms. However, your obligation doesn’t end at installation. It’s your responsibility to regularly check and maintain these alarms to ensure they work as they should.
As a property owner, whether you own a house or an apartment, it’s important to understand that smoke alarms need regular servicing to remain compliant. Ignoring this could result in fines, not to mention the risk of putting lives in danger.
Common Misunderstandings with Strata Properties
If you own a strata property, there’s often confusion about who handles smoke alarms. Many landlords think that because their strata manager organises fire safety inspections for the building’s common areas, like lobbies, hallways, and stairwells, the alarms inside their apartment are also covered. But that’s not the case.
While the strata is responsible for fire safety in shared spaces, the smoke alarms within individual apartments are the owner’s responsibility. As a landlord, it’s up to you to maintain compliant smoke alarms in your unit. This is a common misconception, but failing to understand it could leave you liable for any issues that arise.
Affordable Smoke Alarm Servicing
To make things easier, Mclaws Property partners with Detector Inspector, a service that ensures your alarms are compliant for just $109 a year. This service includes an annual inspection, testing, battery replacement, and any necessary repairs or replacements, giving you peace of mind that your property meets the standard.
Detector Inspector’s service is incredibly popular, with 85% of Mclaws’ clients opting in. For a minimal cost, it removes the headache of trying to keep up with smoke alarm compliance. As a busy investor, this service ensures your property meets legal requirements without you needing to think twice.
According to the NSW Government, “landlords must ensure that smoke alarms (including heat alarms) are working.” By using Detector Inspector, you can easily meet these obligations, knowing that everything is being handled professionally and efficiently.
Avoid the Risk of Non-Compliance
Not keeping up with smoke alarm regulations in NSW can lead to serious consequences. Beyond the risk of fines, there’s the potential for serious injury or worse if a fire occurs and the smoke alarms fail. Protecting your investment property goes beyond rent collection and tenant management. It’s also about ensuring the safety of those living there.
For just $109 a year, Detector Inspector’s service takes the stress out of maintaining your smoke alarms. You can be confident your alarms will be compliant, and you’ll avoid any legal trouble while keeping your property safe. It’s a simple and affordable way to stay on top of your responsibilities as a landlord.
How Mclaws Property Can Help
At Mclaws Property, we handle smoke alarm compliance for almost all of our clients. If we manage your property, we can organise the smoke alarm servicing through Detector Inspector. We know how important it is to stay compliant with NSW’s regulations, and we’re committed to providing services that make property management straightforward and hassle-free.If you’re unsure about your smoke alarm obligations, or if you’d like help managing your property, get in touch with us. Contact us to discuss your investment property and how we can help you meet smoke alarm compliance while ensuring your tenants’ safety.