In Queensland at least, there are regulations with positioning smoke alarms, incorrectly positioned smoke alarm and a death = Insurance nightmare? Food for thought.
This is why I now pay $79 per property. I had always thought "why pay when I can do it?" until we got Smoke Alarm Solutions in and found a couple of alarms had passed their expiry dates, some were in the wrong places, and in a couple of houses we needed more alarms than we had.
I also (by coincidence) had some contact from the chap who has been helping the push for the type of alarms that save lives (google smoke alarms and 60 minutes, check Smoke Alarms Solution site or the link in a recent thread about this) and Smoke Alarm Solutions uses these alarms, so I'm doubly happy we went with them. I have no link to them.
I wouldn't like to be arguing my case in the event of a catastrophic event, so I pay the money. I know I can do it for nothing, but I understand the risk more now of getting it wrong.
The other thing I like is not having to lug a ladder over each time we sign up a new tenant. Some houses have been checked three times in the first year. First time when we signed up, second time when that lease ended, another time when the next tenant broke his lease and we had another tenant, all within the year.
This is one thing I'm happy to pay the professionals.
Of course, I still have to diarise to ensure it is done. I think I get a reminder, but because I diarise it, I get in first anyway and organise the checks.