HOUSING SA, SMOKE ALARMS

In reply to the Hon. J.A. DARLEY (30 October 2008).

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Gambling, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs): The Minister for Housing has provided the following information:

When the legislation was introduced, Housing SA installed smoke alarms in all of its properties. These were a combination of replaceable battery powered alarms and hard wired smoke alarms. Under the current policy and Conditions of Tenancy, the tenant agrees to accept responsibility for the safe use of fixtures and/or fittings requiring batteries, including smoke alarms. This includes the responsibility to replace batteries.

However, tenants who are unable to do so, can telephone the Maintenance Centre to request assistance to have smoke alarm batteries replaced.

Housing SA has a smoke alarm replacement program as part of its annual Maintenance Programs. In 2007-08 nearly 3,000 smoke alarms were replaced in cottage flats at a cost of $0.37 million. The 2008-09 program will involve the replacement of smoke alarms in walk-up flats and attached houses, with an estimated expenditure of $0.5 million.

Housing SA has found that some tenants will remove batteries from battery powered alarms, either to use elsewhere, or to stop them beeping due to other causes, such as dust and cooking, which can trigger alarms. Given Housing SA's experience with the battery powered alarms, this replacement program now specifies that the new smoke alarms must have a non-removable battery, so that tenants are unable to take the batteries out.

In respect to the property at Plympton Park, Housing SA has confirmed that this property does have a smoke alarm in accordance with the current legislation and, following the honourable member's question, Housing SA inspected the premises and can confirm that it has a smoke alarm and it is in good working order. The property has now been sold.