Tenant FAQ
Yes, we do. Our 24/7 emergency service number is 0449 847 156. It’s designed to help you resolve alarm issues over the phone until our technicians can come to your property and rectify the issue in person.
Sometimes, after our visit, it can take a while for the alarm to reset itself after the hush button has been pressed, which can cause your alarm to sound. If you are still experiencing issues with your alarm, please review our troubleshooting guides or contact your real estate agency and inform them of this issue. They will arrange for Be Legal Property Compliance to either troubleshoot the problem or reattend the property. Alternatively, you can call Be Legal and one of our friendly team members will assist you.
The first step is always to check and ensure there is no danger present before hushing a sounding smoke alarm. Do not remove the battery, as the smoke alarms will no longer be fully functional and provide protection against the dangers of a house fire. Instead, we recommend you ‘hush’ the smoke alarm, as this resets the alarm and leaves it functional. Hushing a sounding smoke alarm can be dependant on the brand. Generally, a smoke alarm can be silenced by locating the hush button and pressing it. This will trigger a reset of the alarm, which may take a few minutes. During this time, you may hear occasional beeps before it falls silent. If pressing the hush button does not work, please contact Be Legal or your property manager.
WARNING: If you damage or activate the end-of-life function, you will be charged for the alarm replacement.
A smoke alarm with a flat battery will make a short and sharp chirping sound constantly. The alarm will chirp approximately every 30 to 60 seconds for a minimum of seven days.
We understand compliance matters are of extreme importance to you and your clients. Our service requires a great deal of trust. As we need to communicate directly with tenants to arrange access to carry out our smoke alarm service, keeping your clients’ information confidential is important to us. We take our responsibility regarding the security of their personal information very seriously.
A second smoke alarm installed right next to an existing alarm is usually installed as a temporary alarm. If one of our technicians finds a hardwired alarm that needs to be replaced, they will install a temporary 9-volt alarm covering the hardwired alarm to ensure a level of safety while we arrange for an electrician to attend.
Your managing agent has a duty of care to ensure that your home is a safe environment. Government legislation requires that landlords ensure their rental property is fitted with the required number of working smoke alarms compliant with AS 3786, and they are installed as outlined in the Building Code of Australia (BCA) part 3.7.2.3. This legislation is applicable to all states of Australia. Each state has additional, differing requirements for smoke alarms.
Access to a property enrolled in one of our smoke alarm subscription services is required at least once per year. You will receive a standard entry notice/notice to enter in the post or via email from Be Legal Property Compliance. This will outline the date, time range, and the technician/electrician who will be inspecting the property. We may also make contact with you via SMS to advise of the upcoming smoke alarm inspection. Should you wish to be at the property when they attend, simply contact Be Legal Property Compliance when you receive the entry notice/notice to enter or text message to specify an alternate date or time range between 8.30 am and 5 pm (Monday to Friday). If you do not respond to our letter or text message, your agent will supply keys for the technician to access the property to ensure your home remains a safe environment for you and your family.
You are not required to be home when we attend. We aim to be as accommodating as possible to ensure your privacy is respected and your property is made compliant swiftly and efficiently. We provide an entry notice via mail or email as well as a text message prior to inform you of our upcoming arrival. You can decide to be home for the inspection if you wish, otherwise we will collect keys from your property manager to enter the premises.
Access to your property is required at least once per year. You will receive a standard entry notice/notice to enter via email from Be Legal Property Compliance. This will outline the date, time range, and the technician/electrician who will be inspecting the property. We may also make contact with you via SMS to advise of the upcoming smoke alarm inspection. You may instead receive an email along with a notice of our entry rather than in the post. Should you wish to be at the property when they attend, simply contact Be Legal Property Compliance when you receive the entry notice/notice to enter or text message to specify an alternate date or time range between 8.30 am and 5 pm (Monday to Friday). If you do not respond to our email or text message, your agent will supply keys for the technician to access the property to ensure your home remains a safe environment for you and other occupants of the property.
- You are welcome to contact our office up to 24 hours prior to the scheduled date to reschedule should you wish to be present and find the date or time not suitable.
- In the event that you will not be home, please restrain any dogs or let us know if any animals are confined in the house.
- Please disarm any security alarms that will prevent access.
- If you have disarmed or removed any smoke alarms, please ensure the alarms are placed in a noticeable location so that our technicians can service accordingly.
- Our technician may require access to every room on your property to certify smoke alarm compliance. Please ensure clear access to all rooms.
- Due to health and safety reasons, our technicians are unable to remove their shoes. However, we make every effort to ensure their shoes are clean before entering your home.
- Our attendance is to meet Government legislation and to help ensure your personal safety.
General FAQ
The new legislation only affects class 1a buildings (e.g. houses/townhouses) and class 2 buildings (e.g. units/apartments), as well as caravans and motorhomes. It does not include short term stay dwellings such as motels, dormitories or other buildings. These other buildings are covered by the requirements of the National Construction Code (NCC).
Dwellings constructed pre 1997 may have battery operated smoke alarms.
Dwellings constructed after 2014 are required to have their smoke alarms interconnected to each other.
If the smoke alarms are older than 10-years or if they fail to operate when tested they must be replaced.
If they are replaced they must be replaced with AS3786-2014 compliant photoelectric smoke alarms and powered by what is currently there (i.e. if they are powered by 240-volt they must be replaced with 240-volt smoke detectors, otherwise they can be powered by 10 year non-removable batteries)
All smoke alarms that are required by legislation, when necessary, must be replaced with Australian Standard 3786–2014 compliant smoke alarms.
From 1 January 2022 for dwellings being leased, re-leased or sold.
From 1 July 2024 for all caravans or motorhomes whose registration is commencing or being transferred.
From 1 January 2027 for all other dwellings and registered caravans and motorhomes.
The smoke alarms installed after these dates will be required to be powered by either hard-wired 240-volt or 10-year non-removable 10 year battery and be interconnected by either wired or wirelessly to all other required smoke alarms in the dwelling. All smoke alarms that are required by legislation must be AS3786–2014 compliant smoke alarms.
From 1 January 2022 for dwellings being leased, released or sold.
From 1 July 2024 for all caravans or motorhomes whose registration is commencing or being transferred.
From 1 January 2027 for all other dwellings and registered caravans and motorhomes.
Smoke alarms must be installed on each storey:
- in each bedroom; and
- in hallways which connect bedrooms and the rest of the dwelling; or
- if there is no hallway, between the bedrooms and other parts of the storey; and
- 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.
For caravans and motorhomes, a smoke alarm can be placed anywhere on the ceiling. QFD recommends placing it near where the bed is. If you sleep in the annexe you can also place one there.
While the centre of the room is the preferred location for smoke alarms, this is not a requirement. On the ceiling and they must be 300mm from corners or lights and 400mm from anything that may blow air such as an air conditioner or the edge of the blade of a ceiling fan. There are special requirements for sloping ceilings and ceilings with exposed beams.
All new constructions and major renovations require hardwired 240-volt smoke alarms.
An existing dwelling with 240-volt smoke alarms must replace them when required with 240-volt photoelectric type smoke alarms.
An existing dwelling with battery operated smoke alarms may replace them when required with battery operated photoelectric type smoke alarms that meet the Australian Standard 3786–2014.
From 1 January 2022 for dwellings being leased/released or sold, or 1 January 2027 for all other dwellings, all battery operated smoke alarms must be 10-year non-removable battery smoke alarms.
This means that if one smoke alarm detects smoke, they all sound. Interconnected smoke alarms are connected to other smoke alarms in the dwelling either directly or wirelessly.
Smoke alarms can be interconnected any way that allows all smoke alarms to sound when one is in alarm (i.e. when one activates they all sound). This can be done by physically wiring together or using wireless technology (or a combination of both). Wireless technology is available for both 240-volt and battery operated smoke alarms.
The landlord is responsible for the installation of smoke alarms that comply with legislation.
Within 30 days before the start of a tenancy in a domestic dwelling, the lessor/landlord must test each smoke alarm in the dwelling in compliance with Fire Services Act 1990 – section 104RAA(3).
During a tenancy in a domestic dwelling, the tenant must test each smoke alarm in the dwelling, in compliance with Fire and Emergency Services Act – section 104RAA(3), at least every 12 months.
QFD interprets that a tenancy means a right to occupy residential premises given under a residential tenancy agreement to which the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 applies.
Therefore, when there is a renewal or extension of an existing tenancy, the obligation is on the lessor/landlord, because each renewal or extension creates a new right for the tenant to occupy the residential dwelling.
Test is defined in the Fire Services Act 1990 – 104RAA – it is defined as pressing the “test” button or as stated in the manufacturer’s instructions.
Clean is also defined by the Fire Services Act 1990 – 104RG – and that is “in the way stated in the manufacturer’s instructions”, it provides the example of vacuuming the smoke alarm to clear it of any debris that may have the potential to cause nuisance activations or effect the performance of the smoke alarm.
No – there is no legal requirement for any qualification or certification to test or clean a domestic smoke alarm.
Some real estate agents may outsource smoke alarm maintenance to another company with associated fees paid by the landlord. The real estate may request a “certificate of compliance” from these companies as proof of service. This is not a legal requirement but may be part of the real estate agent’s internal process.
All smoke alarms that are required to be installed or replaced by the legislation must be a photoelectric type smoke alarm that complies with Australian Standard 3786–2014.
Australian Standard 3786–2014 requires the smoke alarm to have “AS3786–2014” on it.
The new domestic smoke alarm legislation only applies to domestic dwellings (e.g. houses, townhouses, apartments, units, caravans, motorhomes). It does not apply to motel buildings.
Yes. The regulatory authority of the domestic smoke alarm legislation in Queensland is the Queensland Fire Department (QFD), under the Fire Services Act 1990 and the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008.
However, the domestic smoke alarm legislation was introduced to provide early occupant warning to all occupants of a dwelling in the event of a fire. This early warning combined with a practised fire escape plan ensures all occupants can safely exit.
Ionisation smoke alarms may not operate in time to alert you early enough to escape a smouldering fire. Smouldering fires are the major cause of fatalities in house fires.
If hardwired interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms are activating and there is no identifiable cause for the activation (eg. dust), the issue could be related to either the power supply or incorrect installation. Hardwired smoke alarms refer to devices which are connected to the household 240 volt supply.
(There are a number of reasons for false activations originating from battery operated alarms such has maintenance i.e. dirt trapped in the alarm, age of the device or a faulty device.)
In some regional or remote areas in Queensland, fluctuations in the power supply travelling to your house or from electrical/electronic equipment in your home may cause false activations of hardwired smoke alarms. This is also known as ‘dirty power’ and solar energy may also cause these fluctuations in power supply. To overcome this problem, a filter can be installed on the switchboard to reduce the impact of these fluctuations in power supply.
Incorrect installation of smoke alarms can also cause false activations of hardwired interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms. Manufacturers have specific instructions which must be followed when installing interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms. Smoke alarms should not be connected to lighting circuits with dimmers as this will cause false activations.
To reduce the instance of false activations, homeowners should discuss the installation of hardwired (240v) smoke alarms with a licensed electrician who can provide advice and solutions.
Seller / Owner FAQ
Since January 1, 2022, all residential properties leased or sold in Queensland must be equipped with photoelectric, interconnected smoke alarms in all bedrooms and hallways or between areas containing bedrooms. By 2027, all owner-occupied properties in Queensland must also meet these requirements.
The new Queensland smoke alarm legislation started on January 1, 2017, following a fatal house fire. From that date, all new builds had to meet the requirements. By January 1, 2022, all properties sold or leased and Government-owned housing had to comply. The final deadline, by which all domestic dwellings, including owner-occupied homes, must comply, is January 1, 2027.
If your smoke alarms don’t meet all legislative requirements, the buyer is entitled to a compensation of 0.15% of the purchase price. In most cases, this compensation is higher than the cost of installing compliant smoke alarms.
While it’s not a legal requirement, a Compliance Report serves as proof that legislation has been met. It’s a valuable document to present to potential buyers before a contract to prevent any sale delays.
We’ll email you a detailed Compliance Report within 24-48 hours after completing the smoke alarm inspection at your property. However, please note payment is required before final report is released.
The exact number of smoke alarms required depends on various factors, including your property’s location, number of rooms, and levels. We can provide an accurate assessment after inspecting your property. If you’re in Queensland and need to upgrade to meet the new requirements please contact us.
Yes, we offer once off attendence to check and test the existing smoke alarms, ensure the correct number and type of alarms are installed, interconnected and
positioned correctly (according to QLD legislation). This inspection is suitable for vendors selling their property who believe their property already meets the requirements of the new 2022 QLD smoke alarm legislation. [Please note any rectification works may incur a charge]
Unfortunately, our services are tailored for Class 1a or Class 2 (sole occupancy) residential properties only and do not cover commercial buildings or ‘1b dwellings.’ If you manage a commercial property, we recommend contacting QFES or a commercial smoke alarm provider.
Our preferred product is Red Alarms, however we also install Emerald Planet and Cavious.
We take a best practice approach to avoid disturbing asbestos. We install alarms on non-asbestos materials or use double-sided tape where needed to ensure compliance. Safety is our top priority.
We no longer use ‘smoke in a can’ or compressed air for testing and cleaning smoke alarms. Our maintenance process follows manufacturer’s instructions to ensure quality service.
We use both electricians and technicians depending on your property’s location and the type of alarm required. Electricians are needed for installing hardwired alarms, while technicians are trained to install wireless interconnected alarms.
Photoelectric alarms are recommended by all fire authorities in Australia. They are most effective at detecting slow smouldering fires and less likely to produce false alarms from burnt toast or steam. They are the preferred choice for safety.
We use radio frequency identification (RFID) technology for interconnecting alarms across multiple levels when wiring is not an option. The RFID module is already contained in the base of these smoke alarm models.
Sometimes, after our visit, it can take a while for the alarm to reset itself after the hush button has been pressed, which can cause your alarm to sound. If you are still experiencing issues with your alarm, please review our troubleshooting guides or contact your real estate agency and inform them of this issue. They will arrange for Be Legal Property Compliance to either troubleshoot the problem or reattend the property. Alternatively, you can call Be Legal and one of our friendly team members will assist you.
The first step is always to check and ensure there is no danger present before hushing a sounding smoke alarm. Do not remove the battery, as the smoke alarms will no longer be fully functional and provide protection against the dangers of a house fire. Instead, we recommend you ‘hush’ the smoke alarm, as this resets the alarm and leaves it functional. Hushing a sounding smoke alarm can be dependant on the brand. Generally, a smoke alarm can be silenced by locating the hush button and pressing it. This will trigger a reset of the alarm, which may take a few minutes. During this time, you may hear occasional beeps before it falls silent. If pressing the hush button does not work, please contact Be Legal or your property manager.
WARNING: If you damage or activate the end-of-life function, you will be charged for the alarm replacement.
A smoke alarm with a flat battery will make a short and sharp chirping sound constantly, approximately every 30 to 60 seconds for a minimum of seven days.
