Now is the time to check your smoke alarm

It is the Landlord’s duty to provide you with a smoke alarm, but it’s your duty as a Tenant to ensure that it is tested and kept in good working order, including replacing the battery when required.

The more smoke alarms you have, the safer you’ll be. As a minimum you should have one on each floor. However, if you have only one alarm and two floors, put it somewhere you’ll be able to hear it when you’re asleep. If you have a TV or other large electrical appliance (such as a computer) in any of the bedrooms, you should fit a smoke alarm there too.

Keeping your smoke alarms in good working order protects you and your family against fire. By pressing the test button on your alarm you can check if the battery in your smoke alarm is still charged and find out if your alarm is ready and working. However, it is just too easy to forget this crucial test.

To keep your smoke alarm in good working order, you should:

• test it once a week, by pressing the test button until the alarm sounds
• change the battery once a year (unless it’s a ten-year alarm)
• replace the whole unit every ten years
• clean your smoke alarm once every three months using the soft brush of your vacuum cleaner. This will ensure you remove any excess dust or insects.

 If you would like any help, please call our office on 0113 320 2000.

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