Smoke alarm batteries in AST rental - who buys new ones?

Slinky

pumas said:

moneysavinghero said:

From my experience (amazing what you discover on zoom calls) even when the smoke alarm starts beeping every couple of minutes to alert to a dying battery most people just get used to the beeping rather than bother replacing the battery. 

Neighbours left theirs beeping every 38secs for 18 months, joined by a second one 12 months later. It only stopped when they moved.
Removing the batteries from my mains alarms didn't stop the beeping. After 10 years the alarm itself needs replacing.

I'd have been done for murder way before the 18 months was up.

wesleyad

annetheman said:

dimbo61 said:

Is this a mains wired smoke alarm with battery back up ?
Get back to your lettings agents and ask then how the property has passed a Gas Safe Certificate ?
Has the property got a CO alarm close to the boiler ? Gas hob ? Gas fire ?
Has the property got a current EICR ( Electric Inspection and Condition Report as this should mean the flat has mains wired interlinked smoke alarms.
So one in the main living area and one in the hallway and bedroom !
This depends on the size of the property.
Houses would have one on each floor.

Yes, this is what is my main point of confusion now. How it passed 2 years in a row when I have not taken the batteries out... Any ideas how this could be?

Its nothing to do with a gas safety check. They will only check the workings of the boiler and any hobs etc. You will pass a gas saftey check with no fire alarms in the property.

phillw

davidmcn said:
You should, at your local pound shop. It's a consumable item. You should probably also test them more often than zero times every 3.5 years!

I wouldn't use pound shop batteries, the last ones I bought just leaked everywhere.
I use low self discharge rechargeable batteries in every thing these days. Eneloop for AA/AAA and Uniross for PP3. They are expensive, but they last a long time.

annetheman

wesleyad said:

annetheman said:

dimbo61 said:

Is this a mains wired smoke alarm with battery back up ?
Get back to your lettings agents and ask then how the property has passed a Gas Safe Certificate ?
Has the property got a CO alarm close to the boiler ? Gas hob ? Gas fire ?
Has the property got a current EICR ( Electric Inspection and Condition Report as this should mean the flat has mains wired interlinked smoke alarms.
So one in the main living area and one in the hallway and bedroom !
This depends on the size of the property.
Houses would have one on each floor.

Yes, this is what is my main point of confusion now. How it passed 2 years in a row when I have not taken the batteries out... Any ideas how this could be?

Its nothing to do with a gas safety check. They will only check the workings of the boiler and any hobs etc. You will pass a gas saftey check with no fire alarms in the property.

Oh okay, that's interesting then - from the agent who booked the 'gas safety check' - their words: "The recent gas safety certificate states that the smoke alarm batteries need to be replaced"

It is indeed in the Gas Safety Certificate forwarded, under 'Faults'. Also in 2019 and 2018, the engineer checked the CO and smoke alarms......... Curious!

YoungBlueEyes

Do people honestly not test them??

Monday is my ‘domestic nonsense’ day. After I’ve dusted I vacuum upstairs and down, and when I pass under a smoke detector I poke the wee test button with the end of my hoover to make sure it’s in good order. 

It’s really no hardship! 🙄

lookstraightahead

I tested ours monthly. It was in our rental agreement to do so, and of course I didn't want to die or be responsible for the lovely elderly people upstairs.

i also check them in an owned property.

lookstraightahead

YoungBlueEyes said:

Do people honestly not test them??

Monday is my ‘domestic nonsense’ day. After I’ve dusted I vacuum upstairs and down, and when I pass under a smoke detector I poke the wee test button with the end of my hoover to make sure it’s in good order. 

It’s really no hardship! 🙄

We have high ceilings so my OH stands on his tiptoes and uses the vacuum extension as well 🤣

Robbo66

dimbo61 said:

Is this a mains wired smoke alarm with battery back up ?
Get back to your lettings agents and ask then how the property has passed a Gas Safe Certificate ?
Has the property got a CO alarm close to the boiler ? Gas hob ? Gas fire ?
Has the property got a current EICR ( Electric Inspection and Condition Report as this should mean the flat has mains wired interlinked smoke alarms.
So one in the main living area and one in the hallway and bedroom !
This depends on the size of the property.
Houses would have one on each floor.

A smoke alarm has no bearing on the Gas Safety plus there is no requirement for a landlord to fit a CO2 alarm unless the property has either an open fire or solid fuel/wood burning stove. 

greatcrested

This forum here is home to many gas engineers. See the thread:

pumas

Slinky said:

pumas said:

moneysavinghero said:

From my experience (amazing what you discover on zoom calls) even when the smoke alarm starts beeping every couple of minutes to alert to a dying battery most people just get used to the beeping rather than bother replacing the battery. 

Neighbours left theirs beeping every 38secs for 18 months, joined by a second one 12 months later. It only stopped when they moved.
Removing the batteries from my mains alarms didn't stop the beeping. After 10 years the alarm itself needs replacing.

I'd have been done for murder way before the 18 months was up.

I only heard it in the garden, but it was annoying!