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Smoke alarms

  • There must be a minimum of one working smoke alarm within 3 metres of each bedroom door, and in a self-contained caravan, sleep out or similar there must be a minimum of one working smoke alarm.
  • The landlord is responsible for making sure smoke alarms are in working order at the beginning of every new tenancy.
  • The tenant is responsible for batteries (if required) during their tenancy.

Tenants should be aware that:

  • They should regularly check their smoke alarms to ensure they are working properly and report faults to the landlord to ensure their immunity from liability for a negligent (careless) fire, as they may face potentially significant liability in the event of a fire they or a guest causes, if they tamper with, remove or cause a smoke alarm to be inoperative.
  • A landlord may be able to pursue a tenant for damages of a negligently caused fire, if an insurer will not pay because the tenant or a guest has done something that interferes with the landlord’s insurance coverage, such as causing a smoke alarm to not work because the battery has been removed.

If you would like to discuss these changes and how they affect you or your property, please do not hesitate to contact Steve on 021 685 944.


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