Managing smoke alarm compliance - New South Wales

Smoke alarm compliance As a landlord, you are responsible for ensuring smoke alarm compliance at your rental property. This document provides key information to help you make informed decisions about meeting your smoke alarm obligations.

Compliance management options Effective from 23 March 2020, your obligations under the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 (NSW) section 64A now include an annual smoke alarm check in each residential rental property. All smoke alarms must comply with Australian Standards AS 3786 and Building Code regulations.

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Engage a specialist Detector Inspector works with your agent to ensure all of your smoke alarm obligations have been met and issues raised by tenants are taken care of.

Cost

Risk

Just $119 incl. GST ever year

None

Fixed fee service

Add-on services available

No nasty surprises in your annual bill. Price includes replacement of faulty or expired alarms and callouts for beeping alarms.

Water efficiency, corded blind and safety switch checks are available as add-ons to the smoke alarm service.

Detailed Service reports

Urgent Jobs Framework

Have full visibility of every step of the service process and be legally protected in case of an audit.

The emergency support team is available 7 days a week until 10pm to assist. The Urgent Jobs Framework ensures your tenants are protected.

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Self-managed compliance For landlords who don’t wish to invest $119 for a specialist, self-managed compliance may be an option, though it does come with some risks.

Cost

Risk

Time, arrange the repair/replacement of non-working smoke alarms and batteries within 2 business days

Max penalty of $2200, potential dismissal of insurance claims for damage, personal injury or loss of life

Liability The obligation to ensure mandatory checks are carried out (once every 12 months) appropriately and the reports compiled and made available to the agency falls on you.

Reporting Landlords must ensure all requirements under the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 (NSW) are met.

Hardware To complete a smoke alarm check effectively, landlords should acquire specialist tools such as smoke in a can, decibel reader and compressed air.

Faults To repair or replace a faulty hardwired alarm, the landlord must engage an authorised electrician which could incur an electrician callout fee.

Engage a specialist Detector Inspector advantage Detector Inspector’s smoke alarm safety service provides peace of mind that all smoke alarms at a property are operating correctly and the property is safe and compliant.

Your benefits: •

Access to Australia’s largest team of residential safety & compliance specialists

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$119 incl. GST fixed-fee smoke alarm service consisting of replacement of faulty or expired smoke alarms & batteries and free callouts for fault rectification and more

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Urgent Jobs Framework for emergencies

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After-hours renter support for beeping or sounding alarms, our dedicated renter support line is available 7 days per week, until 10PM

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Digitally recorded, time/date and geo-located photos of each smoke alarm to provide enduring peace of mind

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A Service Report that details the property’s compliance with all applicable smoke alarm legislation

Did you know?

Dirt and insects are very common reasons for smoke detectors going off inappropriately.

Physical obstructions can interact with the sensor and cause your smoke alarm to activate. Click here to find out other reasons that could set off an alarm and tips for prevention.

Self-managed compliance Does my strata cover me?

Some landlords assume that their strata company will ensure compliance with their obligations under the Residential Tenancies Act. Strata companies do conduct Annual Fire Safety checks on properties but they are not required to adhere to the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA), they follow a different set of standards and regulations.

Detector Inspector managed

Strata managed

✓ Our comprehensive annual smoke alarm safety service ensures that each property is compliant with the smoke alarm legislation applicable in its state

✕

In most cases, strata checks only test a sample of units annually, so not all properties receive a complete inspection (if they test internal smoke alarms at all)

✓ Our annual safety check on each alarm includes smoke, button and decibel tests and positioning compliance check to provide peace of mind that all alarms at a property are operating correctly and the property is safe and compliant

✕

For those alarms which are inspected, they may not be comprehensively tested and include checks for smoke alarm quality, quantity, positioning, expiry dates or have the required battery change included

✓ We’ve got service team members that can be redirected to your property when the need arises. Our Urgent Jobs Framework provides ease of issue reporting and clear and rapid response times

✕ It is unlikely a strata company will attend a property to fix faulty alarms within two business days of being notified as stipulated by RTA, nor will they provide call outs for a fixed fee

✓ Our services have been meticulously designed to meet the requirements of the RTA. Servicing is carried out by specially trained technicians using our advanced technology to ensure the regulations applicable in the state are applied and the property’s compliance is assured

✕ To ensure your obligations under the RTA are met, written confirmation from the Owners Corporation is required stating that they take full responsibility for your internal smoke alarms and that they do conduct an annual check and battery change each and every year

Recommended tools for testing and maintaining smoke alarms Ensuring smoke alarm compliance involves much more than simply pressing the test button. Below is a list of essential tools and equipment that qualified smoke alarm technicians carry when conducting a safety check at a property.

Replacement batteries

Decibel reader

To replace 9v batteries in all batterypowered smoke alarms.

To measure the sound output of the alarm (no less than 85 decibels (dBA).

Ladder

Replacement alarms

To access the smoke alarms to perform the required safety checks.

To replace faulty or expired smoke alarms.

Handheld vacuum To remove any insects or obstructions from the optical chamber.

Smoke alarm safety •

A safety check on each alarm, including button and decibel tests and positioning compliance check

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Installation or replacement of faulty or expired smoke alarms required for compliance (with exclusions)

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Free replacement of smoke alarm batteries

Learn more

Corded blind add-on service •

A safety check on all blinds, window coverings and fittings to ensure they are correctly secured and labelled

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Free replacement or installation of missing or damaged cleats, cord guides, warning labels and swing tags (with exclusions)

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Cord shortening service for beaded metal chains

Learn more

Water efficiency add-on service •

Water efficiency flow test of shower heads, cold water taps and single mixer taps for kitchen sinks and bathroom basins

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Identification of required works to meet the regulated requirements or otherwise, issue of a Certificate of Water Efficiency

Learn more

Safety switch testing add-on service •

Free testing of the RCD safety switch

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Where a safety switch fails, video evidence will be provided

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The faulty unit will be replaced for $199 ex.GST including the electrician’s callout fee

Learn more

Our services Our services have been meticulously designed to meet the requirements of the RTA. The range of services to ensure compliance of residential properties covers smoke alarms and corded blinds safety checks, water efficiency checks and RCD safety switch testing.

Wth these services you can enjoy: •

Fixed annual fee without any hidden costs

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No callout fees for smoke alarm faults or corded blind issues between services

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Free replacement parts such as smoke alarm batteries

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A Service Report with time/date and geo-located photos of each alarm & corded blind after each inspection

Did you know?

Tragically, one to two children die each year due to non-compliant corded blinds. Due to the potential strangulation hazard, landlords are required to ensure that all corded window coverings are properly fitted and maintained in accordance with the Competition and Consumer (Corded Internal Window Coverings) Safety Standard 2014. Learn more about landlord obligations here.