Property managers/owners are required to test smoke alarms within 30 days before the start date of a tenancy, including the start of a renewed tenancy.

The Fire Services Act 1990 states that property managers/owners must replace any flat or nearly flat smoke alarm batteries within 30 days before a lease begins or is renewed. Hardwired smoke alarms with a user-replaceable 9V battery as a secondary power source are listed as a compliant smoke alarm on the Queensland Fire Department website.

The Queensland Fire Department recommends following the manufacturer’s instructions for testing, cleaning, and changing replaceable batteries as required. Property managers/owners may want to provide tenants with a copy of the manufacturer's instructions to help them complete these tasks.

A property manager/owner must not pass on their obligations to the tenant. For example, a property manager/owner must not ask a tenant to test smoke alarms at the start of a tenancy.

Tenants are responsible for testing and cleaning smoke alarms during the tenancy. This must be done at least once every 12 months.

The Fire Services Act 1990 states that tenants must replace any flat or nearly flat smoke alarm batteries during their tenancy. Hardwired smoke alarms with a user-replaceable 9V battery as a secondary power source are listed as a compliant smoke alarm on the Queensland Fire Department website.

The Queensland Fire Department recommends following the manufacturer’s instructions for testing, cleaning, and changing replaceable batteries as required. If you don't have the manufacturer's instructions, you can ask your property manager/owner for a copy.

You don’t need to be a qualified person to test and clean a domestic smoke alarm. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions or visit the Queensland Fire Department website for more information.

The resources below may be helpful for rooming accommodation providers but are not exhaustive. Providers are responsible for familiarising themselves with the legislation relevant to their building. Information about building classes can be found on the Queensland Building and Construction Commission website.

Class 1a houses and townhouses

• Queensland Fire Department – smoke alarms

Class 1b boarding houses and Class 3 residential buildings

• Business Queensland – fire safety installations in buildings
• Business Queensland – fire safety in budget accommodation buildings
• Queensland Fire Department – budget accommodation buildings
• Queensland Fire Department – building occupiers, owners, lessees and bodies corporate

Class 2 apartment buildings

• Queensland Fire Department – smoke alarms
• Queensland Fire Department – building occupiers, owners, lessees and bodies corporate

Class 9c aged care facilities

• Business Queensland – fire safety in residential care buildings

Residents should advise their rooming accommodation manager/provider if there is an issue with a smoke alarm.

Residents should not remove a smoke alarm or do anything to reduce the effectiveness of an alarm e.g. paint or cover it.

Depending on the building type, residents may also be responsible for testing and cleaning smoke alarms in their room during the tenancy. Rooming accommodation managers/providers should include details about any testing or cleaning requirements in the special terms of the agreement. Providers may also want to provide the manufacturer’s instructions for the smoke alarms.

Special terms relating to smoke alarms cannot contradict the relevant fire safety legislation for the building. For example, if the legislation states that testing is the building owner/manager’s responsibility, the property manager/provider cannot require the resident to test smoke alarms.