Smoke detector replacement law

Adly812

Looking for some advice. I am aware that every smoke detector has a ‘replace by’ sticker on the Side of them. I have battery back up operated Aico smoke detectors that are mains wired.

If the smoke detectors still work and are tested regularly, is it law to change the units?
Asking if it is a legal requirement for them to be changed for renting, or if they still work is it fine to keep them?

G_M

if they work, they're fine.


But it makes sense to test and replace the batteries if required - this is down to the tenant.



https://www.landlordreferencing.co.uk/blog/landlords-smoke-detectors-and-the-law/

Adly812

Thank you G_M those were my thoughts and I certainly had a read of that link you sent actually when I was googling it. But all I can seem to find is suggestions that they should be working. This is obvious, but nothing really is mentioned with the replace by stickers and the law to change the units if the stickers suggests expiration, but work..

molerat

Interesting read.

https://www.safelincs.co.uk/why-should-smoke-alarms-be-replaced-after-ten-years/

G_M

molerat wrote: »

Interesting read.

https://www.safelincs.co.uk/why-should-smoke-alarms-be-replaced-after-ten-years/

yes. But no suggestion that there is a legal requirement to replace after 10 years in he UK.


The key message seems to be to test regularly, replace batteries when they fail, and replace alarms when they fail.


Common sense really.

Owain_Moneysaver

When you're in a coroner's court what will you say when asked "why did you leave your tenant with out-of-date smoke detectors when the instructions clearly say they must be replaced, and this would have cost about £25 for an easy-fit replacement detector?"

need_an_answer

I replaced one not that long ago in a new to me property that I purchased.

I figured that for around £20 it was a purchase I was happy to make,I could read the "expiry date" so I figured that perhaps a tenant could too.
I didn't want a call in the middle of the night or any other time really saying they needed their detectors replacing because of the date...


Maybe its spending money unnecessarily,maybe its being a proactive LL......

silvercar

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

When you're in a coroner's court what will you say when asked "why did you leave your tenant with out-of-date smoke detectors when the instructions clearly say they must be replaced, and this would have cost about £25 for an easy-fit replacement detector?"

Refer them to the guidelines in the link that G_M provided:

"After the landlord’s test on smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors on the first day of the tenancy, tenants should take responsibility for their own safety and test alarms regularly to make sure they are in working order."

parkrunner

Smb3088 wrote: »

Looking for some advice. I am aware that every smoke detector has a ‘replace by’ sticker on the Side of them. I have battery back up operated Aico smoke detectors that are mains wired.

If the smoke detectors still work and are tested regularly, is it law to change the units?
Asking if it is a legal requirement for them to be changed for renting, or if they still work is it fine to keep them?

My hard wired one has nothing written it at all, it is tested once a week though.

Adly812

silvercar wrote: »

Refer them to the guidelines in the link that G_M provided:

"After the landlord’s test on smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors on the first day of the tenancy, tenants should take responsibility for their own safety and test alarms regularly to make sure they are in working order."

Touch!. I’ll try and get them replaced to give them peace of mind.
But G_M is right, if they are working and tested really then there is no need to replace by legal requirements, which is what I was initially trying to figure out.

G_M

I suspect the 'replace by' date may well refer to the back-up batteries - but that is just a guess/assumption.


Does the label make it clear?