Posts Tagged ‘smoke alarms’

THE OLA ‘MAKE POSITIVE CHANGE DRIVE’ – Give Proper Notice And Make Sure Your Rentals Are ‘Fire Safe’ (and have working smoke detectors)

Tuesday, January 10th, 2023

The most experienced and successful landlords in our community association know that tenants want to live in safe properties. No one should live in dangerous conditions and our members agree.

Most of our members used to rent and know finding a safe property who makes ‘house safety’ a priority is very important. This is why the latest news being discussed on our forums have many of our members unhappy and why we need to push hard to get landlords trained.

Wasaga Landlord Charged With Failing To Maintain Smoke Alarms

According to a report in Wasaga Sun via Simcoe news the owner a multi-unit rental faces nine charges.

The charges are under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act after firefighters were alerted to the situation in July.

Crews attended the building on 12th Street South on July 18, and arrived to find a resident attempting to put out a fire in one of the units with a garden hose.

In his monthly update to council, fire Chief Craig Williams said the fire was caused by a cellphone that malfunctioned while it was being charged. The resident who was trying to put out the fire was treated for smoke inhalation, and first- and second-degree burns on their hands.

The fire was contained to the one unit, though units above it had some smoke damage.

A further inspection of the entire building by firefighters led to the owner being charged with failing to install or maintain smoke alarms, a citation that carries a $360 fine for each charge if the person charged pays the fine rather than goes to court.

Should a charge go to court, Williams said, a conviction carries a fine of $50,000 per charge, and a year in jail.

“It serves as a reminder that landlords are responsible to provide working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms,” he said.

In an interview with Simcoe.com, Williams said an alarm system in the building that uses heat detectors did go off to alert the residents to evacuate.

“However, in that complex, there are also standalone smoke alarms in each individual unit, and what we found was those standalone smoke alarms were either missing or they weren’t working,” he said.

We started our association to educate small landlords to be the landlords we always wanted to find and rent from.

Time To Make Sure Your Rentals Are Fire-Safe (and the smoke detectors are working!)

Take action NOW!

Make sure you give proper notice to your tenants and create the safe and comfortable rentals that we always wanted to find.

OLA Members Will Make Our Rentals Safe and Secure To Improve The Rental Industry! 

Our Members Will Become the Landlords We Always Wanted To Rent From!

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Posted in bylaws, credit checks, landlord advocacy, Landlord and Tenant News, OLA volunteers, Ontario landlord advocacy | Comments Off on THE OLA ‘MAKE POSITIVE CHANGE DRIVE’ – Give Proper Notice And Make Sure Your Rentals Are ‘Fire Safe’ (and have working smoke detectors)

Ontario Landlords Association Fire Safety Campaign 2022: Keep Your Tenants Safe!

Friday, September 2nd, 2022

Ontario Landlords Association Fire Safety Campaign Rental Property

Experienced Ontario Landlords Know Safe Rentals Are Our Priority!

Winter is already on the way.  For over a decade our landlord community association has educated small working class mom and pop landlords on the importance of Fire Safety!

Many small landlords had no idea they were required to make their rentals “fire safe” until we started sharing this vital information over a decade ago.

Sadly there are still landlords who aren’t following the laws in 2022. 

Rule #1 – Make sure you contact your local fire department and work together to make your rentals “fire-safe.” All properties are unique so get your local fire dept. to help you make your rentals safe.

Here is how to start according to the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs in 2022:

Most fire departments in Ontario provide homeowners with free fire safety inspections to go over which Fire Code Regulations and local by-laws affect your property. You can schedule an appointment and they conduct a walk-through assessment with you to go over the requirements.

For some safety tips and requirements of smoke alarms, please visit: https://www.oafc.on.ca/smoke-alarms

For some safety tips and requirements of carbon monoxide alarms, please visit: https://www.oafc.on.ca/carbon-monoxide.

Downloadable brochures can be found on our website here (and on the left-hand column): https://www.oafc.on.ca/public-safety

Your local fire department would also have brochures and pamphlets (likely in multiple languages) to provide to you and your tenants..

Let’s Make Our Rentals Fire Safe!

Safe rentals are a great way to let all the good tenants out there know you are a responsible and professional landlord who takes being a landlord seriously.  Successful landlords know good tenants want to rent from responsible landlords who rent out safe and well maintained rental housing units. Remember: Contact your local Fire Department for details for your specific rental property!

The Ontario Landlords Association is a community association that has launched Fire Safety Campaigns for over a decade to make sure residential landlords across the province are aware of their responsibilities for owning rental properties and protecting our tenants. 

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Posted in Landlord and Tenant News, Landlord Community Association, Ontario Landlords Fire Safety Campaign, The Voice For Small Landlords In Ontario | Comments Off on Ontario Landlords Association Fire Safety Campaign 2022: Keep Your Tenants Safe!

Tenant Disables Smoke Alarms, House Burns Down, Tenant Charged

Friday, January 11th, 2013

January 11th, 2013

OLA smoke alarms 1

Orillia Ontario Tenant Charged With Intentionally Disabling Smoke Alarms

The Ontario Landlords Association has repeatedly emphasized to landlords how important it is to make fire safety a priority in your rental properties.

For example, last October 1st we recommended landlords use the opportunity of collecting October rent to also check the smoke alarms in your rental property.

Fire Safety Should Be a Priority for Small Landlords

Like we said then:

With furnaces and space heaters soon to be turned on as the weather gets cold, it’s also a great opportunity for Ontario Landlords to check that smoke alarms are present and working in your rental properties.

Let your tenants know ahead of time and let them know you are working to protect not only yourself, but your tenants!

Why Does it Matter?

Not having working smoke alarms can lead to fines and even worse.

The Fire in Orillia

On January 2nd, 2013 a huge fire broke out at 11 William Street in Orillia, Ontario. The fire caused over $150,000 in damages.

One of the tenants was charged for disabling a smoke alarm in the property on purpose.

According to Ralph Dominelli who is the Fire Chief in Orillia, it’s a very serious act if you disable a smoke alarm.

Chief Dominelli says that while the fire that broke out in the bedroom on the second upstairs floor was not being considered suspicious, the smoke alarms were not activated.

The Fire Chief said even while his team was fighting the blaze, no smoke alarms went off.

The Tenant Was Charged

The Fire Department charged the tenant under the Provincial Offences Act. While the tenant only faces a fine of $235, the Fire department has the option to raise that up to one year in jail and a $50,000 fine.

The severity of the charge will depend on evidence pointing to why the smoke alarms were disabled.

The Investigation

At this time the Fire Chief cannot say why the smoke alarms were disarmed. However a professional engineering company was hired by the landlords insurance company. They have confirmed the fire began at the edge of a mattress.

One of the possible reasons for the fire was faulty discharge after smoking in the bedroom. This has not been confirmed.

Landlords and Tenants Responsibilities

Dominelli says  it is the tenants responsibility to make sure all smoke alarms are in good working condition.

It is the landlords responsibility to make sure smoke alarms are installed on each level of the property and outside of the bedrooms and other sleeping areas.Smoke alarms ought to be checked to make sure they are working effectively each month.

The Lesson for Landlords

Landlords this is another example of why fire safety is important. Landlords must make sure there are working smoke alarms in their investment properties.

It is also important to find good tenants who will cooperate with you in making sure the smoke alarms are maintained in good working order.

You need to do proper tenant screening to make sure you avoid renting to tenants from hell who do not respect you, your property, or their own safety. If you do rent to bad tenants, be aware of what can happen and make sure you fight for your rights and evict them.

If you hire a property management company, make sure they are professional and know all the rules and respect your concerns and worries at all time. There are lots of bad property management companies out there.

To discuss this and other issues with thousands of other small landlords join the Ontario Landlord Forum

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Posted in Ontario Fire Code | 5 Comments »

Landlords and Tenants Know the Fire Code and Check Your Smoke Alarms

Monday, September 17th, 2012

September 18th, 2012

 

Both the Milton, Ontario Landlord and the Ontario Tenant Pleaded Guilty!

Another Issue Regarding the Ontario Fire Code?

Yes, and this time both a landlord and a  tenant were involved.

Both a Landlord and a Tenant?

Both the landlord and the tenant pleaded guilty for  two separate smoke alarm violation cases in Milton, Ontario.

What’s the Background Story?

According to the MFD (Milton Fire Department), the very first charge began with a call for help they received in April of 2012.

And…

Upon arrival at the residence at Cabot Trail, the city Fire Teams found this individual rental unit existed without a working smoke detector.  Where? In the unit basement.  They also found a couple of smoke detectors even  had batteries which were not set up properly.

Who Was at Fault?

The homeowner pleaded guilty to ‘fail to install smoke alarms where required’ and was fined $230.

What About the Other Charges?

The second charge came during a requested MFD rental property inspection in May. Firefighters found no smoke alarm outside the sleeping area of the home on No. 25 Sideroad.

Was the Landlord Charged Again?

Upon investigation, the homeowner produced signed documentation that the rental property did meet the requirements of the Ontario Fire Code with respect to smoke alarms when the tenant moved in.

The Landlord Smartened Up!?

Yes,  the onus of the smoke alarm maintenance was actually placed upon…believe it or not… the tenant.

Upon closer inspection the MFD actually discovered the tenant had removed the smoke alarms and was subsequently charged with, get this,  ‘deliberately disabling a smoke alarm.’ Furthermore, the tenant was fined $100 in court Monday after pleading… guilty.

What Does the Fire Department Say?

Deputy Dave Pratt says: “These charges reflect the MFD’s zero-tolerance approach to smoke alarms as there is no excuse not to have them installed and operating,”

He continued, “Landlords who are found to be negligent in providing and maintaining smoke alarms for their rental dwelling units will be ticketed or charged under the Ontario Provincial Offences Act, as will tenants who intentionally disable them.”

We often think of fire dangers such as arson, but the working smoke detectors are also being treated very seriously by fire officials.

This is a Great Lesson for Ontario Landlords!

Yes, as we have seen previously the government is very quick to charge and fine small business landlords.

Landlords need to protect themselves from charges and fines.  The Ontario Landlords Rental Kit provides the protection they need.  Understand the Ontario Fire Code and make sure you check on all the smoke detectors.

 

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Posted in Ontario Fire Code | 7 Comments »

St. Catharines Landlords Fined $12,500 for Illegal Basement Apartments

Wednesday, August 1st, 2012

August 1st, 2012

 

Landlords Make Sure You Have Approvals and Smoke Alarms!

What Happened?

Two St. Catharines landlords have been fined for creating affordable rental property housing without proper approvals.  Also, they were charged for not having working smoke alarms.

Who are the Landlords?

They are Carmelina Limoncelli and Vince Limoncelli.  Each plead guilty in the Ontario Court of Justice on July 13 to charges related to rental properties located at 34 St. George St. and 56 George St.

What Were the Fines?

Landlord Carmelina Limoncelli was fined a grand total of $5,500.  One count for failing to maintain smoke alarms in her rental cost her $1,500.  A second count for the creation of two rental units in the basement of her house cost her another $4000.

Landlord Vince Limoncelli was fined $7,000 in total.  First for three counts of failing to maintain smoke alarms which costs him $3000.  Second, he has to pay $4000 for the creation of a basement rental unit at 56 St. George St.

What Does the Chief Fire Prevention Officer Say?

“The construction of apartments in homes without proper permits and inspections can result in substandard apartments that do not meet the minimum life safety standards,” St. Catharines chief fire prevention officer Chris Leonard said in a media release.

Why Not Give These Landlords a Chance to Get Up to Code?

No answer.  Those hefty fines must look good for the government looking for more sources of revenue.

Did they Investigate Whether or Not the Tenants Took Down the Smoke Alarms?

No answer.  Instead, Leonard stated:  “Many times these apartments are found with improper exits and fire separations, as well as hazardous electrical installations.”

I See Thousands of “Illegal” Apartment Advertised in Toronto, What about Those?

Like they say in Real Estate, “location, location, location.”   It’s the same for landlords.  Some municipalities turn a blind eye while others seek to punish residential property investors.  No matter if you are in Barrie, Toronto, Ottawa or any other town or city, make sure you know the rules and laws for your area.

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Posted in Basement apartments | 9 Comments »