A fire at a Dunedin flat where no smoke alarms were fitted has sparked a government investigation.
A resident of a Normanby rental property awoke early on Sunday to find her flat rapidly filling with smoke from a chimney fire which had spread to a wall cavity.
She used the light on her phone to find the source of the smoke, before waking her sleeping flatmates.
One tenant called 111 while others attempted to extinguish the blaze.
When firefighters arrived at the property they found the fire contained to the wall cavity and extinguished it without any issues.
There were no smoke alarms in the house.
Nearly two years ago, the Residential Tenancies Act was amended to require landlords to install smoke alarms.
At least one working smoke alarm is required either in every bedroom, or within 3m of each bedroom door, as well as a minimum of one smoke alarm on each level of the property.
A tenant at the rental said her flatmates and landlord were now aware that smoke alarms were mandatory ''and we are going to deal with it ourselves without drama and news reporters''.
However, Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) national tenancy compliance and investigations team manager Steve Watson said his team had ''commenced a proactive investigation'' into the incident.
If tenants suspected their landlord had not fitted sufficient smoke alarms, they could complain to the Tenancy Tribunal or MBIE via the Tenancy Services website, Mr Watson said.
''Landlords who fail to comply can be ordered by the tribunal to pay exemplary damages ... of up to $4000.
''Tenants who interfere with smoke alarms can also face a penalty of up to $3000.''
Mr Watson said the investigations team had successfully undertaken Tenancy Tribunal proceedings against three landlords who had failed to install smoke alarms.
In one case, where a fire broke out at a Hamilton property with no smoke alarms, the landlord was fined $17,520.44.
In addition to the three prosecutions, his team had issued 57 warning letters and ''entered into 86 compliance agreements with landlords who may not have been fully compliant with their obligations in relation to smoke alarms,'' Mr Watson said.
Attempts to contact the landlord were unsuccessful yesterday.
