Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms in rental property

feeling pretty passionate about this CO alarm issue at the moment especially for the week that is in it and I think i shall write off a few letters today and try and lobby the powers that be that all rental property should/must have at least one Carbon Monoxide alarm (and professionally fitted in the right/optimum area if needed) where there is a fuel burning appliance in the room of rented property. Not just a new requirement but a requirement for all existing tennents across the land whether it be people living in RAS/Council/Private renting or whatever

- I dont want to hear of another person or family dying from CO2 fumes due to faulty appliance or blocked chimney that could have been prevented by an alarm early warning them, its the invisible silent killer! - and I still maintain that if you leave it up to the tennent to buy one and fit it properly and maintain it and change it when it gets old you are more than likely going to get the tennent who puts it on the long finger and never gets around to buying/fitting one. However if its left up to authorities and landlords to be forced to supply and fit them by law then thats a better option.

We have been renting for years now and I remember the requirements coming in about the fire blanket being fitted in the kitchen - that had to be enforced so it can be done, i also happen to think that a CO alarm is in some respects just as important as a CO alarm and smoke alarms.

Wish me luck in my plight. I may hit a few brick walls but dont be surprised if you see me on RTE1 six one news one evening lol

Rhett Important Furnace wrote: »

Its not a requirement in Ireland as far as I'm aware. Only place I've seen them is work places or some apartments never in houses.



Is this a requirement, my current place doesnt have one nor had my previous places (neither a blanket or an extinguisher)

My previous house we rented had 3 smoke alarms and all wired up to the mains as well as having batteries in them (just normal alkaline, not rechargeable) - that was only built in 2002 maybe thats why, maybe it was required in planning permission?

The house we are renting now has 2 Batter operated only smoke alarms im pretty sure of it - this house was built in the late 1970's

different landlords have different agendas I suppose and some are more accommodating and thoughtful than others I suppose, this is why its sketchy - in our previous house we rented the landlord had a fire extinguisher already fixed in one of the kitchen cupboards and when the thing came in about the fire blanket we had to wait in one day whilst the (LL friend or lettings agents) came around and drilled and rawlplugged the wall to put up the fire blanket near our cooker and the mains smoke alarms were already installed but i do remember one day (again either LL or letting agent) asking us to be around whilst they sent someone to test the alarms and replace batteries

- and he arranged an earth leakage test on the electrics as well even though the house was pretty modern and built in 2002 - maybe he was the exception or an exceptional outstanding landlord who wanted to do everything by the book and proper, but it makes me realise now what a good landlord he was. The only thing he didnt arrange was a yearly service check of the outside oil boiler but i bet if we asked him he would have got it serviced regularly.

In this house we had to move in now it only has a fire blanked, 2 what look like older battery operated smoke alarms, and no fire extinguisher.

i'd like to get a CO alarm and a fire extinguisher and replace the outdated smoke alarm but it all costs money doesnt it and its all pay out on top of all our other bills and at the end of the day we are renting its not our property and I think if the LL is getting paid a decent monthly rent they should be supplying us with this stuff.

If i were in the insurance trade I would be doing spot checks on rented out houses and regardless of law etc if i found that basics of adequate smoke alarms, fire blanket and extinguisher and a carbon monoxide alarm were not fitted to the rental property I would class that as being a factor should the house burn down or poison the tennent with fumes when it comes to making a claim if these things werent supplied in the first place!

Paulw wrote: »

But, in saying that, if I lived in a property that didn't have what I needed in terms of safety, I would get my own things.

In my apt I have added two extra fire/CO alarm units, and also a fire blanket plus fire extinguisher.

But, even still, fire alarms have an expiry date, which few if any ever check, and fire extinguishers also expire or loose pressure, so need to be checked.

It costs very very little to buy these things yourself, on top of whatever is already there. Why try to blame someone else (landlord) for what you can do for yourself and your own peace of mind???

So sorry to disagree - these items are not 2 or 5euro they are expensive items, well they are to me. I am personally on budget and just about manage to pay the bills and the rent each month and some months have got behind so no not me personally and others in the same situation can afford to buy these things! - i have to wrestle now, do I buy 2 new smoke alarms, a CO alarm and a Fire extinguisher this month for me and my families safety or do i keep money to pay the rent and electric this month? - thats the reality of it!

kceire wrote: »

I wish,you the best of luck with your plight. I as a landlord have smoke detection in every single room of my tenants property and also on every landing too, overkill maybe, but with a background in construction, structural engineering and fire engineering, I know all too well how easy it is for a fire to take hold.

I also have a CO alarm in the kitchen where the gas boiler is. But I'd like to clarify that there is no such thing as a professionally fitted CO alarm. They are mostly battery operated as he charcoal element in them has a shelf life of 6-7 years give or take, so you need to be able to dispose of and replace easily. You just stick them to the wall or the ceiling with self tapping screws or double sided atop works too. That's it.

You sound like a great landlord, not only do you care about your tenants welfare and safety whilst they are renting from you but you also sound like your not one of these landlords that just want to reap in all the benefits of getting a monthly rent of tenants but not look after their tenants after they move in - these type of landlords are few and far between these days i think.

I might get one of these when finances allow. €27 free uk postage (I can choose parcel motel for delivery) on ebay uk site:

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/CARBON-MONOXIDE-ALARM-DETECTOR-FIRE-ANGEL-NEW-C0-9DQ-FREE-UK-POSTING-L-K-WOW-/121765298796?hash=item1c59c7026c

€47 in Irish maplin store! - I like gadgety things and this has LCD display on it so it might be right up my street, most probably OTT and a normal non LCD display type would do the same thing I suppose.

MJI wrote: »

I always take the batteries out of smoke alarms because upstairs the shower steam sets it off and down stairs the oven and grill stets it off. It's too annoying otherwise.

pretty sure i have seen smoke alarms out there with a 'silence' button just for nuisances like when they go off when cooking.

I was looking at a Carbon Monoxide alarm yesterday online which claims to have a 7 year battery life and whats more they put in the description it had a non removable 7 year battery , for the very reason that the consumer does not remove battery to put into a remote control or something or just because the alarm is annoying

Rhett Important Furnace wrote: »

If a carbon monoxide alarm is going off then its not something people should be ignoring or turning off like a smoke alarm when cooking!!

no but they do!