Posts Tagged ‘smoke detectors’

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!

Rental Property Fire! House Burns Down! Landlord Fined! Tenants No Insurance!

Wednesday, July 18th, 2012

July 18th, 2012

 

Fire Chief: Landlords Are Responsible for Working Fire Alarms

What Happened?

On July 4th, 2012 the Georgina Fire Department responded to a fire in a residential house in Keswick, Ontario.

How Strong was the Fire?

There are reports from witnesses the flames were rising more than 20 feet above the house.

Was Anyone Hurt?

All occupants, including a child, who were renting the Keswick home were out of the house with no injuries when the fire department arrived.

What Was the Cause of the Fire?

According to Deputy Fire Chief Steve Richardson, an extension cored plugged into a portable air condition unit was the cause of the fire.

No Smoke Detectors?

Richardson states his crew found the property lacked any functional smoke detectors.  Because of this the landlord was fined for “failing to install working smoke detectors” under the Ontario Fire Code.

Did the Family Have Contents Insurance?

The fire was especially harmful to the tenants.  All of their belongings were lost and they did not have contents insurance.

Richardson states this “acts as a stern warning to homeowners when it comes to smoke detectors.”

Why is the Landlord Being Fined When it was the Tenants Fault?

Richardson states: “Owners and landlords are responsible for ensuring working smoke alarms are installed in all rental properties.”

He asks:  What would have happened if this fire had occurred during the night when everyone would be sleeping?  There likely would have been seriously injuries…or even a death.

What Does the Ontario Fire Code Require?

Richardson states what the Ontario Fire Code requires.  You need working smoke alarms  installed on every story of your home.  You also need smoke alarms outside all sleeping areas.

If a landlord doesn’t have these the law can result in a ticket of $235 or fines up to $50,000 for individuals or $100,000 for corporations.

How Can Landlords Protect Ourselves?

It’s important to do regular checks on your rental properties to ensure the smoke detectors work.  When you do this, make sure your tenants sign off that the smoke detectors are working.

How Can I Get Them to Sign Off Agreeing to it?

In the Ontario Landlords Association Rental Kit there is a ready made document for you to give to your tenants.