What homeowners and landlords must know to stay compliant and safe
Smoke alarm rules in Victoria trip up a lot of homeowners and landlords — the requirements depend on when your home was built, and getting it wrong has real safety and legal consequences. Here is a clear rundown of what is actually required in 2026.
Every Victorian home must have working smoke alarms, and by law they must be photoelectric alarms that comply with Australian Standard AS 3786:2014. You need at least one alarm on every level of the home. Photoelectric alarms are required because they respond faster to the smouldering, smoky fires most common in homes.
Alarms must be installed between each sleeping area and the rest of the home — typically in hallways outside bedrooms — with at least one on every storey. Correct placement matters as much as the alarm itself, and it is easy to get wrong.
Under Victoria’s rental minimum standards, smoke alarms must be installed and in working order at the start of every tenancy and kept in working order throughout. The rental provider (landlord) is responsible for testing and maintenance — you cannot require the renter to do it. Annual testing by a professional is the simplest way to stay compliant and keep records.
The Victorian Government has been progressing legislation that would require a smoke alarm inside every bedroom in newly built homes, not just outside sleeping areas. If you are building or renovating, it is worth planning for alarms in bedrooms now. We keep across the current rules so your install is compliant either way.
We install and upgrade photoelectric and interconnected alarms for homeowners and landlords across the eastern suburbs, and inspect on completion. See our smoke alarm compliance service to book.
Answer a few quick questions about your job and we’ll get back to you fast.
Or call Jeremy directly on 0401 749 095
It depends on when your home was built. Homes built after 1 August 1997 require hardwired (240V) alarms with battery backup. Older homes may use sealed 10-year photoelectric battery alarms. All alarms must be photoelectric and meet AS 3786:2014.
Test the alarm button monthly, and replace alarms at least every 10 years. For rental properties, the rental provider must ensure alarms are working at the start of and throughout every tenancy — annual professional testing is recommended.
The rental provider (landlord). They must install working alarms, keep them in working order, and arrange testing and replacement. Renters cannot be required to maintain or replace them.
Photoelectric alarms detect smoke from smouldering fires faster and are the type required by law in Victoria. Ionisation alarms are no longer recommended and should be replaced with photoelectric units.