Smoke alarms save lives. There are significant obligations on property owners with regards to the installation and maintenance of smoke alarms at domestic dwellings.
As a lessor you are required to test and clean smoke alarms and replace any flat or nearly flat batteries within 30 days before the start of a tenancy. Please refer to the excerpts from the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990 below. We strongly recommend engaging a suitably qualified contractor to ensure compliance. Contact us for further information.
N.B. A lease “renewal” is a term commonly used when an agreement is entered into for an existing tenant to continue to occupy a property under a fixed-term. The term “renewal” can be misleading as the process of agreeing to a new fixed-term agreement “starts” a tenancy agreement. The Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990 requirements apply.
Excerpts from the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990
Examples of manufacturers cleaning instructions.
As can be seen, simply wiping clean or dusting a smoke alarm may not be sufficient. Section 104RG explicitly states the cleaning must be carried out in the way stated in the manufacturer’s instructions.
No Thanks, I’ll Arrange My Own Servicing
If, as a lessor, you are taking responsibility for arranging servicing we require a completed Smoke Alarm Service Report for our records.
Smoke Alarm Service Report Lessor Serviced
Important Links
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services
Fire and Emergency Servies Act 1990
Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008
Fire and Emergency Services (Domestic Smoke Alarms) Amendment Bill 2016