Fire Sprinkler Disclosure - What You Need to Know

As of October 1^st, 2015 a new Connecticut law (Section 57 of bill 1502) requires disclosure of operative fire sprinkler systems with any residential lease. 

Commercial leases are exempt unless there is a dwelling unit.

Who is Covered?

Any residential rental unit with a "fire sprinkler system," defined as "a system of piping and appurtenances designed and installed with generally accepted standards so that heat from a fire will automatically cause water to be discharged over the fire area to extinguish or prevent its further spread."

What is Required?

The new law requires landlords to take action as follows:

When renting any dwelling unit, the landlord...shall include notice in the rental agreement as to the existence or nonexistence of an operative fire sprinkler system in such dwelling unit and shall be printed in not less than twelve-point boldface type of uniform font. 

If there is an operative fire sprinkler system in the dwelling unit, the rental agreement shall provide further notice as to the last date of maintenance and inspection and shall be printed in not less than twelve-point boldface type of uniform font.  

What Steps Should I Take?

1.           Notice should have been provided to all existing residents.  If you did not 

              provide and post the notice, please let me know.

2.            The new Lease Addendum should be utilized effective immediately with 

               new residents. 

3.            Existing tenants will need to sign the Addendum with their next 

               recertification and Lease renewal.

4.            Because the document must contain the most recent available 

               information, the Fire Sprinkler Addendum must be signed 

               every year at recertification.

The Move-in / Recertification Acknowledgements have also been updated.  Be sure that you are using the current version.