I am the owner and got a letter from real estate agent to get the smoke alarm installed for $85(with unlimited call outs for 12 months) for the rental property. I was wondering do they installed same alarm as we can buy a new smoke alarm for $20 and install them pretty much easily and works the same way.
Is there any benefit of getting done through the real estate or DIY will solve the purpose as a duty of care for tenants.
Thanks everyone for sharing some thoughts
Letter from Real Estate Agent to Get Smoke Alarm Installed to Me as a Owner for Newly Leased Property
Liamhunter on 24/04/2018 - 22:22
Last edited 24/04/2018 - 23:51 by 1 other user
Last edited 24/04/2018 - 23:51 by 1 other user
Comments
Yes agent says its required at rental properties at owners expense
Oh, so you're the landlord and not the tenant.
Yes the Owner sorry I will update the heading, Thanks for sharing
Ya but its only cost $20 or less and 30 mins to install
@Liamhunter: To meet the requirements, the mains powered ones must have their back-up battery changed every 12 months and the start of every new tenancy. Also some states regulate that non-mains powered ones are 10-year non-removable photoelectric fire alarms (which costs a bit more).
However the law does vary from state to state. e.g. NSW
No smoke without fire.
No smoke without fire.
@Zedsdeadbabyzedsdead: Actually, that's not true. You can have smoke without a fire. And, you can have a fire without smoke.
Ah, so you're the landlord?
That was my impression as well. Shouldn't the landlord be the one shouldering the cost?
Depends on whether the OP is the tenant, or the property owner - its the property owner who is responsible for smoke alarms being fitted.
Not sure about types though - i.e. ones that just sound an alarm vs calling back to base - all the places I've been in recently have both - a local "wake everyone up when it detects smoke", as well as the "automatically call the fire department when its obviously on fire" (as detected by temperature).
See https://www.tenants.org.au/factsheet-20-smoke-alarms and https://www.realestate.com.au/advice/the-what-why-how-for-sm…
Depends which state.
You need alarms that are connected to power supply by law.
Not cheap alarms from the internet.you may need
NSW allows battery only from all that is written.
Ask the real estate "is it a bargain??"
It's the owners responsibility. It should be written into the contract.
Anything built after the 90s needs a hardwired alarm in Vic so $85 isnt bad. Probly a tax deductable expense too.
If the $20 does the job and satisfies the legal requirement then by all means. Let the agent know what you want and ask for a cheaper alarm (or diy if you have the time and know how)
Having said that, smoke alarm saves lives. Make sure your $20 will do the job its supposed to properly and adequately , a landlord has a legal responsibility and an ethical one
Not saying you can't get the $20 one, just make sure you know what you're getting
As stated above, the smoke alarm must be a hardwired smoke alarm with battery backup.
That's why there is a price difference.
At least it's a tax deduction.
Ok . Nothin* to see here . Move on
My real estate agent wants $99 for the same thing. You really can't trust real estate agents.
You are a property investor? Man I wish I could afford to do that. I am too busy eating avocado on toast to worry about these kind of things.
smoke alarm installed for $85
$85ea or for the whole property?
buy a new smoke alarm for $20
you need more than one.
http://mfb.vic.gov.au/Community/Home-Safety/SmokeAlarms.html
Locating a smoke alarm
Smoke alarms must be located between each bedroom area and the rest of the house.
In addition inside any bedroom where someone sleeps with the door shut
In a two storey home a smoke alarm is required on every storey, located in the path that people will use to evacuate
If it is only $85 for a hard wired alarm then that is a bargain. A sparky charges more than that just as a call-out fee.
totally agree. its a bargain if that's the case.. should be posted as a bargain lol.
I can hardly get a sparky to answer the phone for that amount.
Assuming this is in Melbourne where your profile says you live, I'd like to know why people are saying a hard-wired one is legally required? Is there a separate law for rented properties?
In Victoria, if the house was built after the hard-wired smoke alarm legislation was enacted sometime in 1997, then isn't it more likely that the builders would have hard-wired it and OP wouldn't be facing this issue? Or are we assuming a hard wired smoke alarm is being replaced for some reason?
A hard wired, linked system with battery as backup is obviously ideal but I always thought an approved photoelectric smoke alarm with a 10 year lithium battery is just as legal in Victoria. Of course a large house or 2 storey building will need more than a studio.
All smoke alarms 9v or 240v carry a 10yr Expiry date (the base of your alarm tells you this date) - a smoke alarm company will replace an expired smoke alarm included in their annual fee.
18 month old thread lol wtf were you searching?!
Is the current one a hardwired alarm?
Simply ask for details of what you get for $85, including the model number and brand.
If you as the owner are prepared to skimp on a smoke alarm (a safety necessity), I hate to think how you'll be with basic repairs…
Is that even your responsibility to do and wear the cost of?