Smoke alarms

Property managers/owners must ensure rental premises meet all health and safety requirements, including the installation and maintenance of smoke alarms that meet Queensland standards.

Smoke alarms save lives. Reports have found that the risk of death in a house fire is reduced by more than half if properly maintained smoke alarms are installed.

Smoke alarm legislation

Smoke alarm legislation for houses, townhouses, units and apartments is administered by the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, under the:

From 1 January 2022:

  • Smoke alarms in all dwellings must:
    • be photoelectric (AS 3786-2014); and
    • not also contain an ionisation sensor; and
    • be less than 10 years old; and
    • operate when tested; and
    • be interconnected so all other smoke alarms in the dwelling activate together; and
    • be either hardwired or powered by a non-removable 10-year battery; and
    • be installed on each story:
      • in each bedroom; and
      • in hallways which connect bedrooms and the rest of the dwelling; or
      • if there is no hallway, between the bedrooms and other parts of the storey; and
      • if there are no bedrooms on a storey, at least one smoke alarm must be installed in the most likely path of travel to exit the dwelling.
  • Property managers/owners must:
    • ensure rental premises meet all health and safety requirements, including the installation of smoke alarms
    • test and clean smoke alarms within 30 days before the start of a tenancy. This also includes a renewed tenancy
    • not remove a smoke alarm or a battery (other than to replace it), or do anything to reduce the effectiveness of an alarm e.g. paint it.
  • Tenants must:
    • test and clean (by vacuuming or dusting) smoke alarms at least once every 12 months
    • advise the property manager/owner if there is any issue with an alarm and allow the property manager/owner right of entry to install smoke alarms
    • not remove a smoke alarm or do anything to reduce the effectiveness of an alarm e.g. paint or cover it.

For more information, including details of where smoke alarms must be placed in a property, visit the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services website or contact QFES.

Testing smoke alarms and entry

Smoke alarms are listed as a reportable item in the Entry Condition Report (Form 1a), which records the condition of all Queensland rental properties at the start of a tenancy.

You do not need to be qualified or licensed to clean or test a domestic smoke alarm. Some real estate agents may outsource smoke alarm maintenance to another company as part of their processes. Tenants should be given a copy of the manufacturer's instructions. Tenancy rules permit entry for the purposes of complying with smoke alarm legislation. The managing party must give the tenant a 24 hour entry notice to install, maintain or test smoke alarms.

Repairs relating to a non-functioning smoke alarm may be considered emergency repairs.
Tenants are encouraged to report any faults or repairs as soon as possible to their property owner/manager to carry out within a reasonable timeframe.