› Flat Chat Strata Forum › Common Property › CP and the Strata Committee › How can we ensure smoke alarms are working? › Current Page
This is my personal take. I accept that others may vehemently disagree.
Firstly there is no Insurance issue. I hear people too often site this to justify their actions.
Since the building is. Class 1a it’s up to the owner to install smoke detectors. There is no legislation commanding the OC to take this on. It’s an offence to not have a working smoke detector installed in a rental property, but that comes under a different act. If the property is not rented it’s recommended to have a smoke detector, but retrofitting them to older properties is not required.
Since the maintenance of smoke detectors in this building is out of the control of the OC, there is no effect on the strata insurance. And in any case smoke detectors are there to save lives not property. Therefore the risk to property is neither less nor more, without a smoke detector.
Secondly, the Bylaw proposed by JT could be unenforceable. One of the take outs of the Cooper dog case, is that the OC cannot regulate the use of an owners lot. What one does behind closed doors is owners business.
Thirdly, you want to consider whether you want to start yearly fire inspections. Being an older building, there may be aspects of the build which met the fire regulations when built, but may need upgrading . That can be a very expensive exercise . For what? satisfying your pet peeve?