The landlord shall inspect and repair a smoke alarm according to this section.
(b)
The landlord shall determine that the smoke alarm is in good working order at the beginning of the tenant’s possession by testing the smoke alarm with smoke, by operating the testing button on the smoke alarm, or by following other recommended test procedures of the manufacturer for the particular model.
(c)
During the term of a lease or during a renewal or extension, the landlord has a duty to inspect and repair a smoke alarm, but only if the tenant gives the landlord notice of a malfunction or requests to the landlord that the smoke alarm be inspected or repaired. This duty does not exist with respect to damage or a malfunction caused by the tenant, the tenant’s family, or the tenant’s guests or invitees during the term of the lease or a renewal or extension, except that the landlord has a duty to repair or replace the smoke alarm if the tenant pays in advance the reasonable repair or replacement cost, including labor, materials, taxes, and overhead.
(d)
The landlord must comply with the tenant’s request for inspection or repair of a smoke alarm within a reasonable time, considering the availability of material, labor, and utilities.
(e)
The landlord has met the duty to inspect and repair if the smoke alarm is in good working order after the landlord tests the smoke alarm with smoke, operates the testing button on the smoke alarm, or follows other recommended test procedures of the manufacturer for the particular model.
(f)
The landlord is not obligated to provide batteries for a battery-operated smoke alarm after a tenant takes possession if the smoke alarm was in good working order at the time the tenant took possession.
(g)
A smoke alarm that is in good working order at the beginning of a tenant’s possession is presumed to be in good working order until the tenant requests repair of the smoke alarm as provided by this subchapter.Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 3651, ch. 576, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1984. Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 48, Sec. 19, eff. Sept. 1, 1993; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 869, Sec. 7, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 918, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.Amended by:Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 257 (H.B. 1168), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2011.