'He brought down the wrath of the fire inspector': Tenant gets back at landlord for insisting they get a pro to install a smoke detector

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Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Jul 13, 2024 5:00 PM EDT

In case no one's reminded you recently, go ahead and test the batteries in your smoke alarms! Don't roll your eyes: it seems minor, but it could save your life. 

You might not need to check your smoke detector if it goes off every single time you cook. Then you know it's working! But heaven forbid there was ever a fire in the middle of the night, that detector would be loud enough to wake you so you could get outside to safety. It's not the kind of thing you should neglect, as u/tdlm40 knows after their run-in with their landlord. They're a tenant who bought a brand new detector after moving in. The landlord should be thanking them for saving a few bucks and taking the initiative, but instead, they're giving them a hard time about it. 

Some commenters sided with the tenant. Others sided with the landlord, stating that he may have been required to get a professional to do the install. You can decide for yourself: keep scrolling to read the entire tale of malicious compliance. 

After that, this hotel worker absolutely suffers each year during the hotel's annual Board of Directors meeting thanks to bossy executive assistants demanding nicer rooms. 

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  • 01
    Landlord wants a professional to install my smoke detectors? Ok.
    via u/tdlm40
  • 02
    Whenever I move into a rental, I replace the smoke detector with a brand spanking new one, and usually add a second battery operated one as well. I leave them in the units after I leave, but for my piece of mind, and because I have grown up with fire safety drilled into my brain, I want to be sure they will work properly, and that they will not fail.
    via u/tdlm40
  • 03
    One landlord I had told me a certified fire protection company had to install the battery operated smoke detector I bought ( , it is 2 screws) AND that an electrician had to replace the other hardwired one. (I tried getting the maintenance guy to do it, but he wouldn't.)
    via u/tdlm40
  • 04
    Finally my dad (who owned a fire protection company at the time) came and installed it, not before asking if that was the detector installed in all units. When they said yes, he brought down the wrath of the fire inspector. (The smoke detectors were over 40 years old and beyond life expectancy). After that, they never asked me to get a professional to do anything. (I wonder why...)
    via u/tdlm40
  • 05
    ETA: for clarification, an electrician is not required for an install since no new lines were being run, so no permits needed to be pulled. Also, a professional did not need to install it, since it was being installed in a residence. They are only required if it is in a commercial area.
    via u/tdlm40
  • 06
    I tried to explain, and show them the codes, but they would not listen. So my dad the professional installed it for me free of charge, and then reported them.
    via u/tdlm40
  • 07
    What happened was they got fined, and had to replace every smoke detector. Funny how when head office got the report and stuff, they bought all new detectors and had the maintenance guy install them since no permits are needed.
    via u/tdlm40
  • 08
    Ra... Most smoke detectors are only good for 10 years, and will usually have a label that says something like "Replace by 202x" Edit to add: If your smoke detector doesn't have an expiration date or manufacturing date on it then it's probably more than 25 years old and should also be replaced.
    via u/Rampage_Rick
  • 09
    [deleted] This sounds like everything working as intended. What I mean is that's an example of a very good reason of why a professional SHOULD be involved and in this case everyone is better off for your landlord's insistence (probably dictated by their insurance policy).
    via u/[deleted]
  • 10
    kmikek Reminds me of how hardhats have an expiration date on them. They are always expired
    via u/kmikek
  • 11
    BringBackVanilla... I'm a landlord and if a tenant wants to throw up their own battery powered alarm that's fine with me. When it comes to the hard wired ones though your landlord was correct in saying that an electrician had to do it. At least in my area, although it's literally just a quick connect 3 wire plug, it has to be under an electrical permit to replace. You would
    via u/BringBackVanillaCoke
  • 12
    think, that as the home owner I would be able to get a home owner permit to swap it out right? Nope, home owner permits don't cover work if the house is being prepared to rent or sell. Although it probably cost your landlord $100+ per unit by the time they paid for the alarm, labour, and permitting its nothing compared to being liable for damage or death caused by a fire.
    via u/BringBackVanillaCoke
  • 13
    littlered1984 House I bought had smoke detectors that were from the 80s, literally black cylinders. with huge red leds on them. Luckily my state requires new and working smoke detectors (and CO detectors) throughout the house before sale can go through. I've got a nice hardwired system with battery backup now.
    via u/littlered1984
  • 14
    secondrat Good for you OP. We had a kitchen fire recently that I was able to put out thanks to the smoke detector going off. If it hadn't we might have lost the house.
    via u/secondrat
  • 15
    31spiders I'm assuming all of the hard wired ones were on one circuit. You're really lucky they did this. If a fire were to have happened in another apartment, and the detector failed....yours wouldn't have done any good (ok maybe the battery one)
    via u/31spiders
  • 16
    BackAlleyKittens Don't take it personally. Your landlord has way more experience with idiots and his faith in another's word has totally eroded. He has a million headaches to deal with. He's delt with the mistakes made by the overconfident.
    via u/BackAlleyKittens

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landlord housing professional house fire landlords smoke apartment malicious compliance malicious-compliance-reddit malicious compliance reddit
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