Q: Does Virginia require landlords who rent out a single family, stand alone home, to provide functional smoke alarms?
Our rental contact refers to Section 55-248.16 and 55-248.13 VRLTA but neither explains if landlord is required to provide. We ask since there were two only in the back hallway (one was "hard wired" but no wires connected!!!) (the second one had no batteries in it) and there were none in any of the bedrooms, den, living room or kitchen. We had a scare the other day where one would have proved useful. I want to be able to bill these that we are buying to him, but need documentation. I haven't been able to sleep. I want to know also how many we can purchase under law (ideally in each bedroom)
A:
§ 55-248.13 is entitled "Landlord to maintain fit premises." It addresses carbon dioxide alarms in subparagraph (A)(8) but no smoke alarms.
§ 55-248.16 is entitled "Tenant to maintain dwelling unit." Subparagraph (A) reads: A. In addition to the provisions of the rental agreement, the tenant shall:
and in Subparagraph (8) and (9), it reads:
the tenant shall:........8. Not remove or tamper with a properly functioning smoke detector installed by the landlord, including removing any working batteries, so as to render the detector inoperative and shall maintain the smoke detector in accordance with the uniform set of standards for maintenance of smoke detectors established in the Uniform Statewide Building Code (§ 36-97 et seq.);
the tenant shall:........9. Not remove or tamper with a properly functioning carbon monoxide alarm installed by the landlord, including removing any working batteries, so as to render the carbon monoxide detector inoperative and shall maintain the carbon monoxide alarm in accordance with the uniform set of standards for maintenance of carbon monoxide alarms established in the Uniform Statewide Building Code (§ 36-97 et seq.);
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