Tenant question about mains smoke alarm battery responsibility/help

propertyrental

Common sense dictates that one understands the property where we live - whether as owners or tenants.  How (and where!) to turn off the mains gas. Where is the consumer unit ('fuse box') and how to turn off the power and/or individual trip switches (and which switches control which circuits.

And what tools are needed eg step ladder.

Utube is a huge resource these days with videos showing you how to do just about anything around the house.

The fire service sometimes will visit to give advice/fit alarms.

Last resort - a local electrician will change the battery for you and show you how to do it yourself for the future.

gld73

OP is in Scotland and states all alarms are mains powered in Scotland now - that's not the case. In fact, all my mains powered ones which had battery back up  (in my own house and the flat I rent out) were replaced by interlinked sealed unit battery ones to meet the new legislation. Rental properties used to require mains powered alarms with battery back up, but now the requirement is interlinked smoke alarms, and heat alarm in the kitchen; the interlinking is the legal requirement now, not the mains powered aspect (interlinked alarms can be sealed unit battery, or mains powered with battery back up).

That asides, it's not usually difficult to change a battery on a mains powered one, I'm no DIY expert and I've always done it in my previous houses when the back up batteries went flat. A lot of tenants seem to struggle though - even when I've left instructions in the past regarding how to pop out the battery holder from the side and replace the battery, ripping the whole thing off the ceiling seemed to be the preferred approach of a couple of tenants unfortunately (the good thing about the interlinked sealed battery ones is that the tenants no longer have to change batteries; the units last up to 10 years, then when the batteries go, a new unit or set of units is required and that's the landlord's responsibility. Plus the legislation will have changed in the meantime anyway going by the last few years!)

OP: Can you get up on a stepladder and look for a battery slot which can be pulled out? That's what most mains powered alarms have in my experience. Spending £100 on an electrician to do a 2 minute job shouldn't be necessary, you'll have friends or colleagues who'll have done it in their own homes even if you're not confident, ask around and find one of them.

BarelySentientAI

https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/contact-us/home-fire-safety-visits/

Free - and the F&RS are usually very good at explaining/demonstrating your alarms and things.

In England they'll provide and fit alarms sometimes too, but I don't deal much with SF&RS.

glennevis

At least two replies on this thread are giving incorrect information .

In Scotland mains powered alarms are required for rented properties.

BarelySentientAI

glennevis said:

At least two replies on this thread are giving incorrect information .

In Scotland mains powered alarms are required for rented properties.

https://www.gov.scot/publications/fire-and-smoke-alarms-in-scottish-homes/



Unless there's some extra legislation that I'm not aware of?  That page does specifically talk about it being the landlord's responsibility to fit them for tenants - so it would seem strange to me to not mention some exclusion of sealed battery units for certain properties at that point.

gld73

glennevis said:

At least two replies on this thread are giving incorrect information .

In Scotland mains powered alarms are required for rented properties.

As the above poster has also shown, no, mains powered alarms are not required. (They used to be, but that has not been the case for a few years now).

The Scottish legal requirements for rental properties (and, more recently, all homes) are <cut and pasted>:

"

• one smoke alarm installed in the room most frequently used for general daytime living purposes (normally the living room/lounge);
• one smoke alarm in every circulation space on each storey, such as hallways and landings
• one heat alarm installed in every kitchen
• all smoke and heat alarms to be ceiling mounted
• all smoke and heat alarms to be interlinked.

Mains-operated alarms (with battery backup) are permitted, and tamper proof long-life lithium battery alarms (i.e. not PP3 type or user-replaceable) are also permitted.   "

Alderbank

It would be useful if @glennevis would return to justify his claim that in Scotland mains powered alarms are required for rented properties.

In addition to @BarelySentientAI's evidence presented above, LAS (Landlord accreditation Scotland) in 'Fire detection in private rented properties Supporting information for Scottish Landlord Registration' are clear that 'Mains-operated alarms (with battery backup) are permitted, and tamper proof long-life lithium battery alarms (i.e. not PP3 type or user-replaceable) are also permitted.'

https://landlordaccreditationscotland.com/scottish-landlord-register-information/fire-detection-in-private-rented-properties/

Alarms must be suitable for the type of property of course and wireless linked alarms might not work well in some large buildings with thick stone walls, but that is covered by the requirement for the landlord to assess as per the Tolerable Standard Guidance Chapters 16 and 17. Even so, battery powered wired interlinked alarms are available.

Albermarle

OP: Can you get up on a stepladder and look for a battery slot which can be pulled out? That's what most mains powered alarms have in my experience.

The ones I have ( well known make), there is a catch with a small slot that you push through with a flat bladed screwdriver . Then you slide the whole detector ( including the battery) off the baseplate which is screwed to the ceiling. This also disconnects it from the mains supply.
Then replace the battery and slide back on again.
To be on the safe side I switched off the relevant circuit breaker first, but I do not think it was really necessary.

Shelldean

I must admit I can't reach nor get the cover off our alarms. Also mains powered with battery back up.

Thankfully I have three sons and husband.

OP any friendly neighbours?

chickadee13

Sorry for any confusion re mains alarms - I must have misunderstood!

So a friend just came over with his stepladder and screwdrivers etc and he couldn't remove the thing either. I went up the ladder and also had a go. I feel we've done our best here but no joy and it's still beeping. I suppose I'll have to pay for someone to come out, then, if the letting agent won't help.