I’m glad that we have in our lease a requirement that ALL requests for repairs be made in writing.
It sounds as if it would behoove landlords to document when they install and check detectors.
Ironically, I just had to climb up on a stool and detach the one near my kitchen. I am grilling chicken sates and cooking bacon wrapped dates, 100 each, and the thing just would not stop.
@Nrdsb4 – I don’t’ think problems with newly installed smoke detectors are likely to crop up within 15 months, but if you decided to continue renting to the same tenants after that period, then they potentially could be there for years-- more likely renewing a lease on the same terms (except for periodic rent increases) than negotiating a whole new lease.So the inspection part isn’t just about 15 months … if you decide to continue renting, you could have the same tenants there in 5 or 10 years.
That won’t prevent you from getting sued.
There are two parts to every law suit – (1) what the plaintiff claims, and (2) what the defendant argues in response.
“Never made a written complain” might or might not be a full defense in a lawsuit, depending on circumstances and what is claimed.
Again - it’s good to put things in a lease to protect yourself – but once you are a landlord, if the tenant calls on the phone with a request or complaint that relates to health & safety issues, you are probably going to want to take care of it ASAP, whether or not you have a letter or email. (And these days, “writing” might very well be construed as a text message or even a message sent over social media). So it is not something that will absolve you of overall responsibilities to maintain the premises.