Smoke Alarms In Rental Properties

Tumbledown_Tammy

My friend signed. Yesterday for a rental property.:eek:

So went with a welcome to your new home card and was appalled at the state of the place, I had previously warned her not to sign this tenancy agreement as had others but she did anyway.

Does rental property by law have to have a working smoke alarm? And maybe a carbon monoxide monitor too? There are too many items to mention wrong with this place that I personally would not have signed.

Also Letting Agent only gave her one set of keys, so can she replace the lock barrels of the two main door properties without telling them, LA said she can't, I say do it as previous tenant has been seen entering the premises to collect mail, he has been seen by neighbours but LA has ignored this...

Many thanks for any advice

T

agrinnall

Generally there is no requirement for either a smoke alarm or a carbon monoxide detector, except (I think) in a HMO. If a smoke alarm is fitted it should be working. As there isn't one I'd suggest your friend buys one for a few pounds (or if the local fire brigade offers the sort of service mine does, they will fit one for free).

Yes, she can replace the lock barrel, but she must return the original one when her tenancy ends.

If she was apalled at the state of the place when she moved in that suggests that she didn't view before agreeing the tenancy, a stupid error that she now will struggle to challenge. Has a dual signed inventory been provided? That at least should protect her from any claim by the landlord at the end of the tenancy that the existing state of the property is her fault.

sandsni

I'm in Northern Ireland, so the rules here might be different, but as far as I know the landlord does have to provide at least one working smoke alarm, and a carbon monoxide alarm if there are gas appliances (and possibly wood-burners etc). I think it is the tenant's responsibility to regularly check they are working and replace batteries if necessary, but it may well be in the landlord's interest to check it themselves (or get the letting agent to do it) when doing the normal inspections We put in smoke alarms on both levels of a two-storey house and a CO alarm near the bedrooms (even though there are no gas appliances) just to be on the safe side. Apart from the obvious safety aspect, it's also in the owner's interest to have smoke alarms fitted to protect their own property.

Werdnal

No obligation to provide either CO or smoke detectors unless its an HMO - House of Multiple Occupancy. TBH, both are so cheap and easily available these days, why does she not buy her own and take them with her when she leaves.

LL does however have to supply an annual Gas Safety Certificate if there are gas appliances/boiler in the property. Has she seen a copy of this? If not, request one in writing.

As for changing the locks, LA will never agree to this, but she can do so, as long as she replaces the original lock when her tenancy ends. Only way LL or LA will find out is if they try to enter without her permission, and their key doesn't work!

Better_Days

If a duel inventory has not been signed I would strongly advise your friend to take dated photo's asap to illustrate the condition of the property.

ALIBOBSY

BD is right I would ensure copies are sent the LL and LA if there are any and get electronic receipts for them.
She could also send a copy to you to hold to prove the phots were taken now not at a later date.

Ali x

tbs624

Tumbledown_Tammy wrote: »

My friend signed. Yesterday for a rental property.:eek:

So went with a welcome to your new home card and was appalled at the state of the place, I had previously warned her not to sign this tenancy agreement as had others but she did anyway.

Does rental property by law have to have a working smoke alarm? And maybe a carbon monoxide monitor too?

If the property was built after 1992 then it has to have hard wired smoke alarms, regardless of HMO status.

If your friend has (edit:concerns) about fire safety at this property then s/he could arrange an inspection by the local fire safety officer and/or ask the local Council to complete an HHSRS (Housing Health and Safety Rating System) assessment. They can flag up the need for appropriate fire safety measures.

S/he can safeguard herself by buying an audible Carbon Monoxide alarm of her own for around 15 quid- not the card colour changing type ( you'd be out of it before you noticed the colour change)

And yes, T can can change the lock barrels unless property is an HMO. Only way LA will know they have done so is if they try to use a key to access the property instead of agreeing access with the T. As agrinall says, keep the old one to put back in at the end of the tenancy.

If there is no jointly signed inventory a LL will struggle to confirm the original state of the property should s/he wish to propose tenancy deposit deductions at the end of the tenancy. Your friend may want to keep his/her own record as suggested by the other posters.

Tumbledown_Tammy

thanks all for the above advice I did write about some of the other problems on another thread on this forum, gave her the advice and showed her the many answers but she chose to go ahead and sign anyway, she refused to sign the check in inventory till the LA amended it and signed acceptance of the dated photographs and a digi cam video thing was taken as well of the state of the place.
LA is in the film saying take it or leave it, she took it, this LA is not a member of ARLA, I personally really dislike this money grabbing person.

So friend is now stuck with this muckhole for 6months on an AST, anything she does to it will be to the Landlords benefit, despite lots of advice she went ahead with this tenancy, so I suppose its all hands to the scrubbing brushes this weekend, paint brushes out and of we go and try to make it more pleasant to live in for her and the children, funny how one cr*p LA and one deaf to tenants pleas Landlord makes life so unpleasant.

Thank you all for your advice much much appreciated.
T

tbs624

Tumbledown_Tammy wrote: »

So friend is now stuck with this muckhole for 6months on an AST, anything she does to it will be to the Landlords benefit, despite lots of advice she went ahead with this tenancy, so I suppose its all hands to the scrubbing brushes this weekend, paint brushes out and of we go and try to make it more pleasant to live in for her and the children, funny how one cr*p LA and one deaf to tenants pleas Landlord makes life so unpleasant.

my highlighting. Note that it is usually the case that a T is required to get the LLs agreement in writing *before* redecorating.

dimbo61

Like others have said phone local fire service who will come and do fire safety checks for free and fit smoke alarms for her and the KIDS!
CO2 monitor would be a nice house warming idea placed close to the boiler.
Ask for Gas safety certificate if one not provided and make sure deposit is protected and info given to tenant.