Landlords must have working smoke alarms installed in all rental properties. Failure to comply is an unlawful act carrying a penalty of up to $4,000.

To comply you must ensure:

• There is at least one working smoke alarm in each bedroom or within three metres of each bedroom’s door – this applies to any room a person might reasonably sleep in.
• If there is more than one storey or level, there is at least one working smoke alarm on each storey or level, even if no-one sleeps there.
• If there is a caravan, sleep-out or similar, there is at least one working smoke alarm in it.
• If there is more than one storey or level, there is at least one working smoke alarm on each storey or level, even if no-one sleeps there.
• None of the smoke alarms has passed the manufacturer’s expiry or recommended replacement date.
• All new or replacement smoke alarms, installed from 1 July 2016 onward, are long-life photoelectric smoke alarms with a battery life of at least eight years or a hard-wired smoke alarm system, and meet the product standards in the Residential Tenancies (Smoke Alarms and Insulation) Regulation 2016.
• All the smoke alarms are properly installed by the landlord or their agent in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
• All the smoke alarms are working at the start of the tenancy, including having working batteries.