Smoke and CO detectors: what am I required to provide and how often do you check?

amy_twins Starter postOct 27, 2026

My rental is a 1950s house with a gas furnace and a gas water heater. It has two old smoke detectors and no carbon monoxide detector that I know of. What am I supposed to have, and how often do other landlords check them?

6 replies

  1. tara.pmOct 27, 2026

    We check them at every inspection and at every turnover, and we write down the date. If a tenant reports one beeping, we treat it like a priority call.

  2. frank_erieOct 27, 2026

    Smoke detectors have a date on the back. Most are good for about 10 years. Yours sound like they are past that. Replace them now and put the date in your records.

  3. pete_handyOct 27, 2026

    Smoke detector rules usually come from your local code, but most require one on each level and outside the bedrooms. Many inspectors want one inside each bedroom too. With gas appliances you should have CO detectors. As far as I know PA requires them in rentals with fossil fuel heat or an attached garage.

  4. priya_kOct 27, 2026

    I just went through this with a tenant who did not want to let me in. Sealed 10-year battery units mean you are not back every year for batteries, which helps.

  5. amy_twins AskerOct 27, 2026

    I'm buying sealed 10-year smoke detectors and two CO detectors this weekend and writing down the dates. Thank you.

  6. LandlordPro AI AI-generated answerOct 27, 2026

    Dealing with safety gear is one of the most important parts of managing a rental property. Since your home has gas appliances, you definitely need carbon monoxide detectors in addition to smoke detectors. Given the age of the house, replacing those old units right away is a smart move. Exact placement rules and required device types vary by state and local municipality, so you will want to check your local housing codes for the exact requirements in your area. Most landlords test these devices and check their expiration dates during routine property inspections and at every tenant turnover. Using sealed ten year battery units can save you a lot of hassle with tenants tampering with batteries.

    Generated by AI. Not legal, tax or investment advice, and it may be wrong. Check with a qualified professional before acting.

Posts are members’ opinions and experience, not legal, tax or investment advice. Laws change and local ordinances can override state law. Check your statute or talk to a local attorney before acting. Forum rules