Landlord Responsibilities
Federal regulations, established by the
U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) require landlords, in many HUD programs, to
provide and install visual alarms in bedrooms that are occupied by deaf or hard of hearing occupants.
These regulations also require that the visual bedroom alarm be interconnected to a compatible smoke
detector, that is located in the hallway, outside that bedroom. This requirement pertains to any
building owner providing housing units and who receives federal funding, or benefits, directly from
HUD or any other federal agency, as rental income or other benefits. However, it does not apply when
deaf (or any) tenants present a HUD rental assistance voucher to the landlord, on the open market. In
addition, HUD specifically prohibits the use of portable visual alarms.
The states of Maryland, Virginia, Maine,
and the District of Columbia also require landlords to provide and install visual smoke detectors in
all types of rental properties, including single family and multiple family dwellings.
All visual smoke detectors must be listed
to Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Standard number 1971 and meet the criteria of the National Fire
Alarm Code (NFPA 72).
For questions, or further information, feel
free to provide your specific situation to us at
donald.sievers@deaffiresafety.com
