Carbon Monoxide Detectors - Required by law?
- Thread starter DavidMc
- Start date
From what I've read, the bill has been passed and the new laws will come into force in the next couple of months.
So yes, but not just yet.
So yes, but not just yet.
Id assume its for homes that have some form of gas heating.............can you imgaine the stupidity of having to install one in Darwin
ta
rolf
The first that i've heard of it. I'll need to check up. Which states?
An old news articles with some info, only suggested for houses fitted with gas appliances
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-03-03/carbon-monoxide-detectors-to-become-mandatory/1965512
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-03-03/carbon-monoxide-detectors-to-become-mandatory/1965512
I've found most homes here have gas heating, I thought they were trying to make it mandatory that all gas appliances were serviced once every 2 years to check for leakage. But I guess an alarm is easier?
Again, from what I've read it will come in for all states... But I haven't had any notification from REIV yet about the changes.
There is no specific legislation that mandates CO alarms, Energy Safe Victoria has actually stated that they don't believe that alarms are the answer to the problem - there is no Australian Standrd for CO alarms (yet) which means your $5 ebay alarm and $150 Australian made alarm are both viewed in the same light. Don't get me wrong the alarms are better than nothing, but some only detect CO at potentially dangerous levels - ESV recommend servicing gas appliances every 2 years (including a full CO test with gas analyser) which can detect and rectify CO issues.
The residential tenancies act is really the only legislation that binds landlords to keep gas appliances in good repair, which is fairly vague and open to interpretation. The more litigious Australia gets in terms of personal injury claims for a few bucks a week for a service every 2 years, it's a good way to CYA (cover your ***) in terms of liabilty etc etc.
Which Real Estate sent out the letter if you don't mind me asking?
Cheers
MG
The residential tenancies act is really the only legislation that binds landlords to keep gas appliances in good repair, which is fairly vague and open to interpretation. The more litigious Australia gets in terms of personal injury claims for a few bucks a week for a service every 2 years, it's a good way to CYA (cover your ***) in terms of liabilty etc etc.
Which Real Estate sent out the letter if you don't mind me asking?
Cheers
MG
The more litigious Australia gets in terms of personal injury claims, the less this sort of investment makes sense. For a few bucks rent the investor is being stiffed left right and centre.
Ausprop, I agree. USA style litigation makes life hard for all investors it would be laugh out loud funny if it didn't ruin people financially every year.
Having worked in the gas industry, and invested in several tenanted properties, the issue with CO is the potential consequences resulting from lack of maintenance - if you don't maintain an airconditioner and it breaks down, the worst that can happen is a tenant complaint via your PM. A poorly maintained gas appliance however can spill CO without any warning (odourless, colourless, tasteless etc) and kill the occupants in a matter of minutes. If lack of maintenance is proven - then has that landlord fulfilled their obligations under the residential tenancies act?
Many investors would also see value in maintaining their appliances (gas or otherwise) as a means of extending the lifespan of the appliance.
I don't think government mandates are the solution here though - homeowners, landlords and tenants should be educated on the issue and and have the freedom to make up their own mind.
The ESV's take on the residential tenancy act if anyone is interested....
http://www.esv.vic.gov.au/For-Consu...andlord-and-property-manager-responsibilities
Having worked in the gas industry, and invested in several tenanted properties, the issue with CO is the potential consequences resulting from lack of maintenance - if you don't maintain an airconditioner and it breaks down, the worst that can happen is a tenant complaint via your PM. A poorly maintained gas appliance however can spill CO without any warning (odourless, colourless, tasteless etc) and kill the occupants in a matter of minutes. If lack of maintenance is proven - then has that landlord fulfilled their obligations under the residential tenancies act?
Many investors would also see value in maintaining their appliances (gas or otherwise) as a means of extending the lifespan of the appliance.
I don't think government mandates are the solution here though - homeowners, landlords and tenants should be educated on the issue and and have the freedom to make up their own mind.
The ESV's take on the residential tenancy act if anyone is interested....
http://www.esv.vic.gov.au/For-Consu...andlord-and-property-manager-responsibilities
Harcourts, SE Victorian based.
Hmmmm.... $150 per property for install, maint is probably $70pa, it's something I'd rather avoid if I can.
Thank you for the link to Energy Safe - I already do the gas maints twice yearly and if that is the better method, I'll save on the sensor.
Am with you 1000%
I have a property close to where those boys lost their lives, which was Mooroopna. I haven't heard anything that means that those type of detectors are mandatory. But I'm thinking it is a great idea. Currently the RE agent sends us our statement with a section about getting any gas heaters checked. Which I am happy to do.
Currently we are living in our own house, which has a heater that leaks gas into the room. The first year we lived here we wondered why we felt sick during winter. Then we just stopped using it. Just had it checked, and it has a hole in it which was allowing Carbon monoxide into our house. YUCK! But had it been a rental or our only heater, it could have been much worse, we could have kept using it. If we were renting we might have let the REA know about the issue, and delays ect would have meant that we were sick during that time.
Asking around, it happens often that heaters are old and in need of replacement due to letting CO into the living space.
To me, it is just something that needs to be done. If I was renting myself, I wouldn't hesitate to get it checked.
Currently we are living in our own house, which has a heater that leaks gas into the room. The first year we lived here we wondered why we felt sick during winter. Then we just stopped using it. Just had it checked, and it has a hole in it which was allowing Carbon monoxide into our house. YUCK! But had it been a rental or our only heater, it could have been much worse, we could have kept using it. If we were renting we might have let the REA know about the issue, and delays ect would have meant that we were sick during that time.
Asking around, it happens often that heaters are old and in need of replacement due to letting CO into the living space.
To me, it is just something that needs to be done. If I was renting myself, I wouldn't hesitate to get it checked.
I've been looking at outdoor gas fireplaces this week and in my research have come across quite a few articles reporting deaths from CO poisoning.
After reading these stories I want a CO detector for my house - For properties with gas heating, I see it as just as important as a smoke detector.
After reading these stories I want a CO detector for my house - For properties with gas heating, I see it as just as important as a smoke detector.
is it still a problem if you have flued gas heaters?
