The family of a man who died in a fire at his rental home has fought for change after his periodic lease meant smoke alarm reforms didn't apply to the property.
Simon Peter Scarff, 52, died while trying to escape a fire at his rental property in the western Ballarat suburb of Alfredton in February 2022."Without a smoke alarm , he made a triple-0 call, but was unable to answer the questions, so the ESTA lady despite her best efforts didn't know who or where to send someone," his sister Jo McConville said.
Tenancies that are fixed-term agreements of more than five years that became month-to-month agreements after that date are also exempt.Ms Williams announced the government will introduce reforms to remove these exemptions, requiring landlords to conduct smoke alarm checks every year and gas and electrical safety checks every two years.
Therese Scarff said the loss of her brother continued to impact her family every day, and their decision to advocate for change was immediate. There is already a requirement to have smoke alarms in residential properties, and the cost of smoke alarm checks is about $70 to $100.
Inspections Landlords Victoria Simon Scarff Advocacy Gas And Electrical Safety House Fire Gabrielle Williams Smoke Alarms In Rentals
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