ACT Smoke Alarm Requirements for Landlords: What to Install and When

The ACT Doesn't Have Victoria's Two-Year Testing Mandate

If you've read about smoke alarm compliance in other Australian states, the ACT rules feel simpler — but they still carry specific requirements that catch self-managing landlords out.

Under ACT Fire & Rescue guidelines and building regulations, smoke alarms must be installed on or near the ceiling in hallways connecting bedrooms to living areas, and on every storey of multi-level dwellings. The key distinction is what type of alarm your property requires.

Hardwired vs Battery: Your Building Date Decides

Dwellings built or significantly renovated after 1 May 1997 must have mains-powered (240V hardwired) smoke alarms with battery backup. These are permanently wired into the electrical circuit — they don't go silent when a battery dies.

Older dwellings can use 10-year sealed lithium battery powered alarms as replacement units. These don't need an electrician to install, but they do need to be photoelectric and carry a 10-year sealed battery.

Both types must be photoelectric. Ionisation alarms, which older properties may still have from the 1990s, don't meet current requirements and should be replaced.

Landlord Duties at Every Tenancy Change

At every changeover between tenants, the landlord must:

• Test every smoke alarm to confirm it's operational
• Replace any expired units (alarms past 10 years from manufacture date — check the date printed on the alarm body)
• Fit fresh batteries in alarms that take replaceable batteries
• Confirm correct positioning on every storey

This testing obligation resets with each new tenancy. It's not a biennial schedule like Victoria's gas and electrical checks — the ACT ties it to tenant turnover.

Who Replaces Batteries During the Tenancy?

This is one of the most misunderstood points. Under Clause 63A of the Standard Residential Tenancy Terms, battery replacement during an active tenancy is the tenant's responsibility. The tenant must replace flat batteries and notify the landlord if an alarm appears faulty or stops working despite a fresh battery.

The landlord remains responsible for the alarm hardware itself — replacing expired units, ensuring hardwired alarms remain connected, and maintaining correct installation. But the day-to-day battery upkeep sits with the tenant.

Worth documenting that the alarms were tested and operational in the condition report at lease commencement.

No Mandatory Periodic Inspections

Test alarms at each tenancy change and keep them operational throughout the tenancy. Routine property inspections (capped at two per year plus the first-month and final-month checks) are a practical opportunity to visually verify alarm presence and note any reported faults.

Getting It Right From the Start

The ACT Rental Minimum Standards Guide includes a pre-tenancy safety checklist that covers smoke alarms alongside electrical, gas, and asbestos disclosure duties — the full set of safety items to clear before a tenant signs.

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