Real Estate Agent Gold Coast, Property Management Gold Coast, Property Managers :: Innova

In November 2006, new smoke alarm laws were passed by Parliament as part of amendments to the Fire and Rescue Service Act 1990.  As from 1 July 2007 homes in Queensland, including rented homes, must have at least one smoke alarm installed.

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If your home was built before 1 July 1997, and you don’t already have smoke alarms installed, you will need to buy and install at least one 9 volt battery operated smoke alarm.

If your home was built after 1997, it should have had at least one 240 volt (hard-wired) smoke alarm installed at the time it was built. This is a requirement under the Building Code of Australia.

If you have done major renovations to your home since 1997, it should have included the installation of 240 volt (hard-wired) smoke alarms.

Lessors (landlords) and tenants have the following obligations.

Lessors

• You are required to install smoke alarms in your rental property.
  
• You must test and clean each smoke alarm within 30 days before the start of a tenancy.
  
• The minimum legal requirement is a 9 volt battery operated smoke alarm, with a one year battery.
  
• Where notified by a tenant that a smoke alarm is not operating, you should have the smoke alarm checked by a competent professional, and as required, repaired or replaced.

• Your lessor or agent is only required by law to test and clean smoke alarms at the start of a tenancy.
  
• You are required by law to test and clean each smoke alarm in the dwelling at least once every 12 months.
  
• You are required by law to replace, in accordance with the information statement provided to the tenant, each battery that is flat or almost flat.
  
• If you become aware that a smoke alarm in the rental property is not working, other than because the battery is flat or almost flat, you must advise the property owner or agent as soon as practicable.