Smoke detectors in rental properties

What ever you do, get the landloards permission 1st and in writting. If you drill into the ceiling and then take the smoke detector away, you will be up for the cost to fix and repaint the ceiling. Trust me on this that depending upon the paint, you cannot just patch things up and expect not to notice that it looks like a slap and dash fix.

LurkerGal said :

A smoke detector will cost you about $12. We rent, and none were in place, so we bought 4 of them and put them on top of various cupboards.

Cheap, and works well (at least, they seem too whenever I forget about the toaster…)

It’s worth shelling out a few bucks for your own safety.

I would advise you to place the detectors on the ceiling, where they have a much better opportunity to detect the smoke from a fire quickly enough so that you will have a greater chance of escaping in time before becoming overcome by smoke.

Because smoke rises, a detector on a ceiling will pick it up much quicker than one located on a wall or elsewhere. Even though you may have your detectors located within 20-30cm of the ceiling, that could still make a big difference between life and death. Plus, being on top of cupboards may allow them to collect dust and lint, which may also negatively affect their performance.

Badly installed detectors are nearly as bad as having no detectors at all.

I remember my apartment complex in Sydney getting a semi-regular check by the authorities for fire safety stuff, but NSW is moving towards hardwired smoke detectors with backup battery.

Perhaps you could point out there is no smoke detector to the landlord – who probably doesn’t realise because they don’t live there – and ask if they will reimburse you the $12 if you buy one from Bunnings?

If not, then you could buy one yourself and just take it with you.

dvaey said :

#3 +100

People seem to think that because theyre in a rental place (especially public housing tennants Ive found), that theyre entitled to everything for free.

really? i don’t see anyone asking for anything for free. i reckon all of these people are paying rent. this rent covers a range of services. they are entirely within their rights to demand that the landlord live up to his/her obligations under the contract.

considering that we have some of the highest rents and crappiest houses in the country i don’t think it is at all unreasonable. lord knows that plenty of landlords follow the precise letter of the law (and more) when it means more money for them–why should tenants be different?

Wouldn’t it be ironic if there was a fire in your apartment while you were waiting for the landlord to install a fire alarm installed because you were too tight to buy one yourself.

Aurelius said :

Dvaey,
You’ve never worked the phones at an ISP, have you?
Same thing happens there.

Strangely enough, I have, it tends to be some sort of entitlment syndrome. Funnily enough, those trying to pay less tend to complain more too.

Looks like I am being undercut – DAM COMPETITION……

Install 42.50 – battery check $18.25 No need for cuteness…

Yeah I think I agree with everyone else here. Yes, your landlord is probably required by law to install them. But for less then $15 you can buy a device that will potentially save your life and all your belongings. Fork out the coin now, find out what you’re entitled to later.

I will also offer to install them, but for the budget price of $45, battery checks at $19.95. Your move Kirk.

I am very happy to install smoke detectors for you for a small fee of $50.

I will also check your battery every year for $25… Free if your Missus is extremely cute…

dvaey said :

People seem to think that because theyre in a rental place (especially public housing tennants Ive found), that theyre entitled to everything for free. I wonder if these same people would go out and buy a $1000 car, then throw a hissy fit at a car dealer because they have to pay to have it fixed, instead of just having someone else pay their way.

Dvaey,
You’ve never worked the phones at an ISP, have you?
Same thing happens there.