NSW Legislation Changed in March 2020: Have you done a compliance audit lately?

• Landlords and agents are responsible to ensure smoke alarms are checked annually, replaced within 10 years of manufacture (or earlier if specified), and that batteries are installed or replaced annually in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications.
• Landlords and agents are responsible to ensure the urgent repair of smoke alarms (including battery replacement) within 2 business days of being notified by the tenant.
• Tenants must notify their landlord or agent if a smoke alarm is not working or needs a battery changed.
• Tenants may be allowed to replace alarms or batteries or engage a licensed electrician to do so if the landlord or agent has not arranged to restore the alarm to working order within 2 business days. The regulations are complex and are different for strata and non-strata premises.
• Landlords and agents must give 2 business days’ notice to inspect smoke alarms and 1 hour notice to carry out repair or replacement.
• Installation of smoke alarms and batteries must be done according to manufacturer instructions for the specific brand and type of alarm.

The new changes represent a huge new administrative burden, but property managers don’t have to carry it! Detector Inspector’s simple annual smoke alarm service is designed to meet all new regulations. Our digital signup process and online appointments integrate with agents’ existing systems to get landlords and tenants on board with a minimum of hassle.

For the landlord to be able to pass on water usage charges to the tenant, the rental property must be separately metered and meet the water efficiency measures, including:

• All taps and toilets need to be checked and leaks fixed at the start of a tenancy, and whenever other water efficiency measures are installed.
• From 23 March 2025, all toilets in rental properties must be dual flush with a WELS rating of three stars or higher.
• When existing toilets are replaced, landlords should consider installing toilets that meet the new water efficiency requirements before 23 March 2025.

The simplest way to ensure your properties are meeting the new minimum requirements is with Detector Inspector’s new water efficiency service as an add-on to your annual smoke alarm inspection and service.

To reflect the new obligations of landlords and tenants:

• The mandatory terms regarding smoke alarm repairs or replacement cannot be modified or excluded from fixed-term tenancy agreements of 20 years or more (this applies to existing and new agreements from 23 March 2020).
• The landlord or landlord’s agent must indicate “yes” or “no” in relation to the matters set out under the heading “Smoke Alarms” on the condition report.