A faulty fire alarm raised the fire service, who pays for this?
Question from Mel updated on 1st October 2008:
Our expert Jeff Montgomery responded:
As a landlord, you are responsible for maintaining the property. This can include repairing a malfunctioning fire alarm, as long as the tenant did not carelessly or intentionally cause the need for repair. Tenants are usually obliged to tell the landlord about any necessary maintenance so that the landlord can arrange for repairs to be done. However, if the tenant has had to arrange repairs because the need for maintenance is serious and urgent and the tenant has been unable to contact the landlord, the landlord may be required to compensate the tenant for the cost of the repair. Whether you will have to pay for the cost of the Fire Service call-out may depend on whether the need for repair (in this case, replacing the battery) was serious and urgent. If you and your tenant are unable to agree about who will pay the cost of the Fire Service call-out, you can apply to the Tenancy Tribunal to resolve the matter. To discuss your situation further, or for advice and information about applying to the Tenancy Tribunal, you can contact the Department of Building and Housing on 0800 TENANCY (0800 836 262).
The Department of Building and Housing provides information and guidance on building law and compliance, services including weathertight homes, and advice for tenants and landlords.
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The Department of Building and Housing provides information and guidance on building law and compliance, services including weathertight homes, and advice for tenants and landlords.
