As of Jan. 1, 2020, it is mandatory to hang a smoke alarm in every home. Before that, it was only required in most rental properties and new construction, but soon the legislation will thus expand.
Is a smoke detector mandatory?
Installing a smoke detector has been mandatory for everyone who owns or rents a home since January 2020. It is also further mandatory to buy one that lasts for 10 years. That means you don’t have to replace the battery in those 10 years. It is best to test a few times a year to see if the beep signal is still working. A broken one should be replaced as soon as possible for your own safety: especially at night, it can save lives!
Where do I place my smoke detector?
In an apartment or house you rent, it is the landlord’s responsibility to buy and install a smoke alarm. As a tenant, you also take care of maintenance: testing whether the beep signal is still working and, if necessary, replacing the batteries. In houses there should be (at least) one per floor, in apartments (at least) one per floor. You would think that the kitchen would be a good place to install one, but it is not recommended: there is a greater risk of false alarms. It is best to place your smoke detectors in passages. In most homes, this is the hallway. Tip: if you want to install an extra smoke detector as a tenant, it is best to install it near your dryer. After all, that’s where fires start faster than you might expect.
Is this being monitored?
As a landlord, you will not obtain a certificate of conformity and you risk a fine if you are found not to be in compliance. For homeowners, there will be no active check to see whether or not you have installed your smoke detector. For your fire insurance, it is not mandatory (yet), although it is never a bad idea to install one. However, the fire department does urge you to register your device at www.hangrookmelders.be. This allows them to map how fire-safe Flemish homes are. Attention: from January 1, 2021, the lack of smoke detectors will be sanctioned more heavily. Installing a smoke detector remains a smart and safe choice. Of course, you want to be informed as quickly as possible if a fire ever breaks out. Tips to prevent that can be found here. Who is liable in the event of a fire in your rental apartmentdepends on how the fire started.