Landlord questions
What are the smoke alarm rules for rentals?
Smoke alarm rules for rentals say an alarm must be within 3 metres of each bedroom door, or in every room where someone sleeps, and on every level of a home with more than one level.
Which alarms
Every new alarm must be photoelectric, with a battery life of at least eight years, or hard wired, and installed following the maker's instructions. Older alarms that still work can stay until they expire.
Who does what
- The landlord makes sure the alarms work at the start of the tenancy and keep working throughout
- The tenant must not damage or disconnect them, replaces dead batteries in older alarms, and tells the landlord about any problem straight away
Penalties
Up to $7,200 for a landlord, and up to $4,000 for a tenant.
Source: Tenancy Services, Smoke alarms, updated 6 September 2023. Checked 2 October 2026. Rules change, so check the current position with Tenancy Services before relying on this.
Latus checks for working smoke alarms before taking on a home. See property management for first time landlords.
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