Is it our responsibility as landlords to replace batteries in smoke detectors and monoxide alarms in our rental home or should the tenants change the batteries? tenants just vacated and we found all alarms and detectors taken off the walls and stored in a cupboard. batteries were dead. if we knew they did this we would have given them new batteries. thanks for your feedback --54.183.xxx.xxx

its prudent. With the availability of 10 yr smoke detectors I do that. We supply extinguishers which we read at least once a year. Gets us in the property. (fyi if you use 9V batt's they just steal them) --108.239.xx.xx

This is a pain but a good thing. --99.23.xxx.x

I do it once a year which puts me in each unit once a year. --107.115.xx.xx

Taking them down is a lease violation. My leases state they must maintain them which would include batteries. If I found that I would charge for the batteries and a fee to reinstall them. I’m normally not that petty but the fact they took them down and put the house at risk makes me so in that case. --24.96.xx.xxx

SO you tell me is a $2.00 battery worth having a dead tenant or no damage coverage? --47.149.xxx.x

In NY state it is landlords responsibility to put in smoke detectors and CO2 detectors,smoke detectors must now be 10 year sealed detectors.I have a form my tenants sign acknowledging how many of each are in the units,it is the tenants responsibility to maintain them although now with sealed if one goes off i would pay to replace it.I have the tenants sign so if there is a fire or they are missing and city does an inspection i can prove i did what i had to legally do --74.77.xx.xx

The cost of a 10 year smoke detector vs a regular is minimal. After you factor in the cost of batteries- they much cheaper. --24.101.xxx.xxx

easier than replacing batteries every 6 month. --44.197.xxx.xx

smokealert.net/product/brk-first-alert-sc9120lbl-hardwire-ionization-smoke-and-carbon-monoxide-alarm-with-10-year-lithium-battery-backup/ --65.188.xxx.xxx

--76.4.xxx.xxx

The ten yr sealed ones solve that problem. There are even hardwired ones w ten yr sealed battery. --172.58.xxx.xxx

Consider installing wired smoke alarms with battery backup where battery will last a long time along with there green light on smoke detector where if red then smoke alarm has fault. Every month check for green light where everything is ok. A smoke alarm can located next to light where a junction box is installed where check for power all the time regardless of the switch on or off for light. Suppose a fire was started then the tenants would get out where most die from the smoke first where never wake up. Another option for multi-residential is to install a single zone fire panel then install heat sensors in each rental unit then smoke sensors in hallways where in the rental unit if the temperature goes above 50 degrees Celsius then the fire bells sound. 50x1.8+32=122 degrees Fahrenheit. A central fire panel will have a battery backup along with any sensor that is tampered with a fault light will come on. In the event of fire personally the advantage of having a fire alarm system where a tenant deliberately set coin dryer on fire where the dryer was written off along no other damage. So in the apartment building a combination of central fire alarm system along wired smoke alarms with battery backup in each rental unit. --68.69.xxx.xxx

We have in our lease that it's the tenant's responsibility to keep the batteries changed, but to be honest I check them when I'm each house quarterly and will gladly change them if needed. Besides, don't want tenants standing on a chair to change them...an accident waiting to happen. --99.92.xxx.xxx

Dismantle a smoke alarm then the tenant is impairing safety of other tenants where tenant can be evicted. Wired smoke alarms have less problems with batteries along with easy to check as green light is on. Battery will last a year easily as there no drain on battery when there is power. One time cost where to cheap out on safety is never cheap when there is fire as damage can be substantial. In house have two smoke combination carbon monoxide smoke alarms where both are powered by Ac with battery backup where one started to beep when a battery was weak where easily swaped out. Recently the GFI in bathroom was triped where the red light came on where reset outlet then pressed test button where light went green again. Power is taken from ceiling light fixture where there is junction box installed in ceiling. Doubt there will a carbon monoxide problem with furnace as furnace is new along water heater only heats when there is demand. Using a EPA wood stove where double wall pipe right down to the stove. Use the natural gas clothes only once in a while. In rentals seen the stupity of tenants where have to have a easy way to check smoke carbon monoxide alarms as this is warning before things can be dangerous. The green light is on then power and battery are ok. --68.69.xxx.xxx

So on my site visit, it truly becomes a health and welfare check on the place --24.101.xxx.xxx

I just hope that I don't get tenants taking them with when they leave. Will have to start a small spreadsheet I guess. Figured I would write the biz name and install date on the back of them. --107.147.xx.xxx

Used those dispoable smoke alarms where found battery failing after 6 to 7 years along the battery is only means to power smoke alarm where wired smoke alarm with battery backup will easily last 10 years along with there is a green light to see the smoke alarm has power along with the smoke alarm will chirp when battery is low. A quick inspection when collecting rent to be sure the smoke is ok by checking the green light. If the smoke alarm is pulled from electrical box then will see the wries hanging out. Tenants do not realize the importance that during a serious fire the smoke will kill them first before the fire starts to spread through the entire rental unit. It only takes pluging a space heater where a fire starts or a lit cigarette contacts combustable material. While it costs more but the overall safety is worth the extra cost as once installed a electrical box is installed then it is easy to swap out for new smoke alarm. There are two outcomes of a serious fire where the least amount of damage is the best outcome where cheaping out on safety is not worthwhile. A central fire panel has a green light to confirm system is working where open heat sensor will trigger a fault light to come on or a weak backup battery will trigger fault light. If a tenant tampers with heat sensor then there is no current on end of line resister where a fault will come on. It is not how the fire is caused but safety equipment is important. If go to a school or any commercial building there is central fire alarm system for a reason even though commercial buildings have block or concrete construction. --68.69.xxx.xxx

Prolly best to sell rather than inspect your investment once every 3 months for water or tenant damages. --76.190.xxx.xxx