Do You Need A Smoke And Carbon Monoxide Detector?

Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are life-saving devices that you probably don’t think about on a daily basis. After all, they’re small, out of sight, and usually quiet unless there’s an emergency or they need new batteries. But as a landlord, you’re required to follow smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector requirements to ensure the safety of your tenants when they’re living in your units.  

So, what are the rental property smoke detector requirements for landlords? Do your tenants also have responsibilities for the detectors in their homes? Are there differences in carbon monoxide detector requirements by state? We’re here to answer all your questions to help you make the safest decisions for smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your rental properties. 

Smoke Detectors Versus Carbon Monoxide Detectors 

Most people are familiar with smoke detectors, but what’s the difference between a smoke detector and a carbon monoxide detector? Each protects you from a different hazard, but they both provide tenants with valuable time to evacuate their homes and call for help. Let’s go over the specific uses of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. 

The Importance of Smoke Detectors 

Smoke detectors, as the name suggests, detect smoke in a home and alert tenants to a possible fire. If you’ve ever left a plate of cookies in the oven too long or set the heat on your stove too high, you may have heard a nearby smoke detector begin loudly beeping, stopping once the smoke dissipates. That’s the sound of a smoke detector doing its job! 

According to the National Fire Prevention Association, 38% of home fire deaths are from fires in which the house had no smoke detectors. This makes installing and maintaining smoke detectors paramount for ensuring tenant safety in your units. There are several different types of smoke detectors that vary in how they work, and following the approval guidelines for smoke alarms can save lives. 

The Importance of Carbon Monoxide Detectors 

Carbon monoxide is a clear, odorless gas that can seriously injure or even kill people unexpectedly. Because carbon monoxide can’t be seen or smelled, people without carbon monoxide detectors must rely on noticing flu-like symptoms, including headache, nausea, confusion, and an upset stomach.  

The CDC states that each year, over 100,000 people visit the emergency room for carbon monoxide poisoning, and another 14,000 are hospitalized. Additionally, over 400 people die yearly from carbon monoxide poisoning. 

Because it’s difficult to detect otherwise, installing carbon monoxide detectors is a life-saving suggestion (or law, depending on your state) for your rental units. Depending on where you’re located, you may be required to install carbon monoxide detectors in rental properties and maintain them. 

Who is Responsible for Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors? 

Generally speaking, landlords are the party responsible for ensuring that smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are installed and in working order. You might be asking, “What does this entail? How often do I need to check on the health of my tenants’ smoke detectors? How many carbon monoxide detectors do I need?”  

Though state laws differ (more on that shortly), it’s common practice for landlords to handle purchasing, installing, and maintaining smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. It’s a good idea and often falls within the building code to install both smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors on every level of the house (including the basement), in the immediate vicinity of each bedroom, and inside each bedroom. You could also consider installing extra carbon monoxide detectors near garages or heaters that are at a higher risk for a carbon monoxide leak. 

Landlords are also responsible for replacing smoke and carbon detectors approximately every 10 years. Even if a detector never once alerts you to a hazard during that time, the pieces inside of the detector become old and less accurate over time. Though you can replace them sooner, 10 years is a good rule of thumb. 

You should inspect your tenants’ smoke and carbon monoxide detectors periodically, but a tenant has some responsibilities, too. Unless otherwise specified in a lease agreement, a tenant is usually responsible for replacing batteries in their detectors, which should be done every six months. Tenants should also periodically check their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure that they’re in working order. 

Occasionally, tenants will tamper with their smoke or carbon monoxide detectors by covering them, removing the batteries, or removing them altogether. This is an illegal practice and, if noticed, should be addressed immediately. You have the option to give a tenant a fixed amount of time to restore the detectors, but if they refuse to comply, it may be time to consult a lawyer on how to take further action. 

State Requirements 

So, are smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors required in your state? 

Each state has different requirements for landlords on whether both smoke and carbon monoxide alarms need to be installed. Depending on your state, do apartments have carbon monoxide detectors? Are smoke alarms the only landlord requirement? Take the time to research landlord-tenant laws in your state to find specific requirements for installation, maintenance, and repairs in your area, but keep in mind that installing both can only improve the safety of your tenants and your property. 

In 10 states, notably Texas, Arizona, and Virginia, only smoke alarms are required in rental properties.  

In 30 states, such as California, New York, Colorado, and Florida, smoke alarms are required as well as carbon monoxide detectors for “high-risk” properties (this means houses with fireplaces and attached garages, as well as heaters and any other appliances that burn fossil fuels).  

In 9 other states, like Illinois, Montana, Washington, and Louisiana, both smoke and carbon detectors are required for landlords to install in rental units. The 50th state, Missouri, is the only state with no law about smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector requirements. 

Conclusion 

With this knowledge, you’ll be well-equipped to install, maintain, and replace smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your rental units. Simple upkeep not only protects you from liability as a landlord but also protects your tenants from potentially harmful and even fatal situations. Set a schedule for inspecting and replacing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors today — your tenants will thank you!