Responsibility for maintaining smoke detector batteries

[Mohan Deep]

Does anyone know if I can create a clause in my nonstandard rental provision to assign responsibility of changing the batteries in the smoke detector to the tenant? 

[Chris Seveney]

@Russell Brazil

Ok glad I am not going nuts as I was thinking same thing. It’s a life safety issue.

Every landlord should be having someone walk their units 2x per year and during this time change the batteries. Also change hvac filters and if you have change in seasons you should have hvac serviced

Yes you can say tenant will do this but when they don’t and your hvac equipment lasts 1/2 time it should etc

Other things such as flushing water heater, checking shower valves, faucets etc for leaks, replace caulking etc, checking windows close properly….

Myriad of things to do and check. My guess is many do none of these