Landlords Can Now Charge Tenants $10 for Each One of These

When it comes to safety inside your apartment, it should go without saying that it should be a safe place to live. That is something that is very serious and important for both the landlord and tenant. A landlord is legally able to require a $10 fee for each one of these that they have to install inside of an apartment.

New York State does a great job explaining whose responsibility is what when it comes to fire alarms inside of your apartment.

Landlords:

• They are in charge of installing and making sure they are up to code.
• There must be a smoke detector in every sleeping room within 10 feet.
• Within THE FIRST YEAR of installing, the landlord is responsible to make sure that they are going, as long as they have not been damaged by a tenant.

Tenants:

• It is the tenant's responsibility to frequently test and make sure that they are working.
• It is the tenant's responsibility to replace and put fresh batteries inside of the smoke detector.
• Tenant's are legally required to pay landlords $10 per smoke detector that is NEW AND INSTALLED.

According to New York State:

Landlords of multiple dwellings must install approved smoke detectors in each apartment, within ten feet of each room used for sleeping. Each smoke detecting device shall include a test device to allow a tenant to ensure that the device is functioning properly. Tenants should test their detectors frequently to make sure they work properly. Smoke detectors should be clearly audible in each of those rooms. Tenants may be asked to reimburse the owner up to $10 for the cost of purchasing and installing each battery-operated detector. During the first year of use, landlords must repair or replace any broken detector if its malfunction is not the tenant’s fault (Multiple Residence Law § 15; Multiple Dwelling Law § 68; NYC Admin. Code § 27-2045).  Tenants are responsible for keeping fresh batteries in the smoke detector.

New York State has an entire document that is very lengthy from the Attorney General of New York that has rules and regulations for both the landlord and the tenant.