Even though smoke alarms are mandatory, smoke alarm legislation does vary state to state. Here is a quick outline on the different laws across Australia:
NSW & ACT – smoke alarms must be installed on every level of a property, including owner occupied and rental properties. They must be tested and check every 12 months and replaced every 10 years. It is a landlord’s responsibility to maintain a smoke alarm in a rental property. And a tenant’s responsibility to notify a landlord or agent if the alarm is faulty within 48 hours.
VIC – Property Managers need to give a tenant an information fact sheet on all the different types of smoke alarms and how to maintain them. An electrician needs to service them every 12 months when a property is being tenanted. Smoke alarms must be hardwired alarms in properties built after 1997.
SA – All homes must be fitted with a working smoke alarm. Homeowners and landlords are responsible for making sure that they are working at all times.
WA – All smoke alarms need to be positioned in accordance with the Building Code of Australia they all must be connected to main power and if you sell or rent the home the alarms must be less than 10 years old from the date of installation.
QLD – All properties in Queensland need to have interconnecting photoelectric smoke alarms in every bedroom and all hallways connecting to bedrooms.
TAS – It is the tenant’s responsibility to make sure a smoke alarm is functioning throughout the whole tenancy. They must let the owner, or the property manager know as soon as the alarm is not working, and the owner is responsible for repairs.
NT – Smoke alarms need to be in every dwelling including movable dwellings like caravans. Homeowners and Landlords need to test them every 12 months.