Reno queen’s urgent message to desperate renters

Renovation Queen Cherie Barber has a crucial message for desperate renters that could save their lives.

Struggling to find a suitable rental?

With vacancy rates at record lows across the country, chances are you are battling other renters for properties that aren’t exactly in the best shape – but at what cost? Experts say there are a range of safety issues renters should check before signing a lease in order to protect themselves and their loved ones from potential tragedy.

Pool safety is a crucial thing to check when looking at rentals. Picture: David Caird

FIRE SAFETY

Brooks Australia state manager and fire safety expert Tony Talbot said while fire safety legislation varies across the states and territories, working smoke alarms must be fitted in all homes and must be tested before a tenant moves in.

“In your leasing documents for each state and territory there is a section in there stating that smoke alarms have to be tested prior to entry,” he said.

While in Victoria and NSW it’s the landlord or property manager’s responsibility to ensure the alarms are tested yearly in tenanted properties, in Queensland the tenant is responsible, according to the state’s fire authority.

Tenants should test their smoke alarms every month. Picture: Tom Huntley

But Mr Talbot said regardless of which state they live in, tenants should test and clean their smoke alarms every month and lodge an urgent repair with their property manager if they don’t work. The smoke alarms should also have “used by” stickers that show when they should be replaced.

Landlords must also do yearly safety tests on gas outlets and electrical circuits, with most properties now having safety switches to prevent electric shock.

Tenants should check their state fire authority for information regarding the number and type of smoke alarms required.

Renovation queen Cherie Barber.

POOL BARRIERS

Property manager Jo Natoli from the Rental Specialists said tenants should physically check pool barriers at the time of inspection to ensure they are secure.

“They should check that all of the fences are fitted into the ground properly and the locking mechanisms work adequately,” she said.

NSW legislation requires tenants to be given a copy of the pool compliance certificate at the time of signing the lease. Compliance certificates are also required for all residential pools in Queensland and Victoria.

The inhabitant of this home was lucky to escape a fierce electrical fire. Picture: Brendan Radke

ASBESTOS

Asbestos Awareness ambassador and renovation expert Cherie Barber said it’s very rare that the presence of asbestos in a rental home is disclosed to a tenant due to the lack of legislation requiring landlords to do so.

“They could be leasing that property not knowing that any part of that property could be asbestos,” she said.

With one in three Australian homes containing asbestos, tenants should be wary of walls with jointing strips as these were commonly used to bind asbestos panels together. While bonded asbestos is not considered dangerous if well maintained and kept intact, drilling into an asbestos wall to hang up pictures could be deadly.

The presence of asbestos at home may not be obvious. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

She said before signing the lease, tenants should ask whether asbestos has been officially identified, and if it has, where the asbestos is and what its current condition is.

Homes containing loose fill asbestos insulation must be listed on the Loose fill asbestos register and included on the lease in NSW and the ACT.

RENTER SAFETY CHECKLIST

Check these safety issues at an inspection or before signing a lease:

* Are smoke alarms present, compliant and have they been tested in the last 30 days?

* How old are the smoke alarms, and are they hardwired or battery operated?

* Are carbon monoxide detectors present in homes with gas heating?

* Has an electrical safety inspection been conducted recently?

* Are pool barriers secure and do gates latch adequately?

* Have you been provided with a pool compliance certificate?

Make sure the pool is compliant before signing the lease. Picture: Richard Dobson

* Was the home built or renovated prior to 1990 and thus likely to contain bonded asbestos?

* Has an asbestos inspection been performed, and if not, will it be?

* Has asbestos been identified, and if it has, where is it and what condition is it in?

* Is the home listed on the loose fill asbestos register?

* Do windows high from the ground have safety locks?

* Are cords from blinds secured out of reach of children and pets?

* Are railings on stairs and balconies securely attached?

* Are cabinet doors securely attached?