With the recent focus being on meeting the upcoming Healthy Homes Standards, it timely to remind owners of the importance of ensuring appropriate smoke alarms are installed in the required locations throughout their rental properties - particularly as the Residential Tenancies (Smoke Alarms and Insulation) Regulations 2016 came into effect almost 5 years ago.
What type of smoke alarms are required in rentals?
Photoelectric smoke alarms with a long-life battery. The battery must have a lifespan of at least 10 years. Consumer NZ testing has shown photoelectric alarms are much better than cheaper ionization models at detecting slow smouldering fires. They recommend Warrior Photoelectric smoke alarms (exclusive to Mitre 10). Hard-wired smoke alarms are also allowed.
The alarm must meet the required product standards. Look for one of the following standards on the packaging:
- AS 3786:1993 (Australia, most common along with UL217)
- UL217 (USA)
- ULCS531 (Canada)
- BS5446: Part 1 (United Kingdom)
- BS EN 14604 (United Kingdom)
- ISO12239 (International).
Who is responsible for keeping them running?
Landlords must ensure alarms are in “good working order”, i.e. free of dust and working at the start of a new tenancy (press the test button or look for the flashing warning light). Landlords must give 24 hours notice before entering a property to check smoke alarms.
Landlords must replace long-life smoke alarms when they reach the manufacturer’s recommended replacement date, or if the alarm is more than 8 years old where there’s no recommended replacement date.
Tenants must replace 9V batteries in any functioning disposable battery-powered alarms installed before these regulations took effect in 2016.
Where to install smoke alarms
There must be one alarm in:
- Every bedroom OR within 3 metres of each bedroom door. A bedroom is any space a person might reasonably sleep in.
- On each storey/level, even if they’re unoccupied.
- In any sleep-out, caravan or similar.
- If you have any further questions regarding smoke alarms in your rental property, please contact your Property Manager or send us an email on [email protected].
