Preventing Tenants From Disabling Smoke Alarms. Suggestions?

Question

I am seeking suggestions for how to prevent tenants from disabling smoke alarms. Verbal warnings and statements written into the lease may not be effective. I've seen plastic bags taped over alarms!!

This is important to me as they can harm others in multifamily settings by disabling them.

Theresa Harris · Answer

@William Coet  Put wording in your lease.  Also add wording that batteries must be replaced every 6 months by the tenants.

The biggest problem is the placement of smoke alarms and setting them off accidentally when you are cooking.  Do not put them in the kitchen.  During the day, most people are awake and would see or smell the smoke, the problem is when you are sleeping.  Put them in the hallway closer to where the bedrooms are.  That way if you accidentally burn something on the stove while you are cooking, they won't go off.

Michael Le · Answer

How about just issuing a lease violation and then evicting them?

Marcia Maynard · Answer

You need to have strong wording in your lease and the moxie to enforce it.

Here's an excerpt from our rental agreement:

SMOKE ALARMS AND CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS. Tenant acknowledges that Landlord, or his agent, upon commencement of tenancy at the above described premises, has installed or caused to be installed __________operational smoke detection/alarm device(s), __________operational carbon monoxide detection/alarm device(s), __________operational combination smoke/CO detection/alarm devices and has shown Tenant their operation. Tenant assumes responsibility to maintain these detection/alarm devices in proper operating condition and will not tamper with these detection/alarm devices. Failure to comply with these provisions would be a violation of the laws of the state of Washington and can result in a fine to Tenant of not more than two hundred dollars ($200), and is grounds for eviction.

Pat L. · Answer

I also agree. We had a local landlord fined (I believe it was $10k) for disabled detectors when a fire did in fact occur.

Account Closed · Answer

I agree with @Michael Le it's time for them to leave. "Harming others" is a understatement. If a fire breaks out, you probably have some legal, possibly criminal,  liability for letting them get away with it.

William Coet · Answer

We use the 10 year sealed units, and they are very nice compared to dealing with changing batteries.   I contacted the manufacturer because I had some that nuisance alarmed, and they said it was likely because of dust build up.  They recommended a can of compressed air to blow the dust out, and it has worked so far.  I am going to make it part of my routine maintenance to clean them out to avoid nuisance alarms in the middle of the night and maintain them.

Tj Hines · Answer

@William Coet put it inside of the lease and if they're caught disabling it, then evict them.

John Young · Answer

Can you charge tenants a small monthly or upfront one-time fire alarm servicing fee?

Matthew Meikle · Answer

@Pat L. I think you're supposed to write the date there. Got me to chuckle though. So, good on you.

Judy Parker · Answer

The town where most of my investment properties are located, has a new Building Code. All dwelling units must have 10-year sealed battery-powered smoke/carbon monoxide alarms. The Kidde units cost approximately $35 on Amazon. And best of all, neither tenant or Landlord has to replace batteries annually. The incessant beeping was one reason why my tenants kept tampering with the detectors (too lazy to install a new battery in the detector).

Preventing Tenants From Disabling Smoke Alarms. Suggestions?

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