Is Your Rental Property Smoke Alarm Compliant?
Smoke alarms can be the most important device in residential fire safety. Not meeting all smoke alarm compliance requirements is not only against the legislation it can have serious consequences for Landlords, Property Managers and Tenants.
Who is responsible?
The Fire and Emergency Services (Domestic Smoke Alarms) Amendment Act 2016 (Qld) commenced on 1 January 2017 and imposes additional obligations on Landlords and Property Managers with regards to the installation and maintenance of smoke alarms at domestic dwellings.
How do I know my smoke alarms comply?
From 1 January 2017, If the existing smoke alarms were manufactured less than 10 years ago, and in good working order, they can remain in place until the implementation date which requires the smoke alarm to be AS 3786-2014 compliant.
From 1 January 2022, smoke alarms must:
- Be photoelectric (AS 3786-2014)
- Not also contain an ionisation sensor
- Be less than 10 years old
- Operate when tested
- Be interconnected with every other smoke alarm in the dwelling so all activate together
- Be either hardwired or powered by a non-removable 10-year battery
Use an accredited supplier to carry out an inspection of your property’s smoke alarms prior to the new tenancy and then annually thereafter.
Where do smoke alarms need to be installed?
From 1 January 2022 for dwellings being leased, released or sold or 1 January 2027 for all other dwellings, smoke alarms must be installed:
- On each storey
- In each bedroom
- In hallways which connect bedrooms and the rest of the dwelling
- If there is no hallway, between the bedrooms and other parts of the storey
- 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
How does this affect my insurance?
Your Landlord insurance policy may also be affected by not having compliant smoke alarms. For example, an insurer may only quote subject to their being smoke detectors installed. Check your insurance policy to make sure your insurance provider will not avoid a claim.
With a little over six months left to comply with the new smoke alarm legislation in Queensland, Landlords and Property Managers should ensure rental properties are up to standard.
For your free investment property health check, please contact 07 3123 7373 or lauren@rentalresults.com.au
