Smoke Alarms; The Non-Negotiable for Your Airbnb

When it comes to protecting your property — and more importantly, your guests — smoke alarms are your first line of defence. Ensuring your alarms are installed correctly and maintained regularly is a legal requirement for rental properties in NSW. But how often should smoke alarms be checked? When should they be replaced? And what responsibilities do short-term rental hosts have?

➤ Smoke Alarms: A Legal Must-Have

For Class 1a Buildings (Single Dwelling Houses or Town Houses) the fire safety code stipulates that Smoke and Heat Alarms must (Clause 4):

• be located in every corridor or hallway associated with a bedroom, or, if there is no corridor or hallway, in an area between the bedrooms and the remainder of the building every other storey in the dwelling not containing bedrooms; and
• be installed on or near the ceiling; and
• comply with AS3786, except where the use of the area is likely to result in smoke alarms causing spurious signals, any other alarm deemed suitable in accordance with AS 1670.1 may be installed provided that smoke alarms complying with AS3786 are installed elsewhere in the dwelling, and
• be powered from the mains electricity supply; or by a non-removable battery with a minimum life expectancy of 10 years that is connected to the smoke alarm; and
• be interconnected, if there is more than one alarm in the dwelling.

Additionally,

• A heat alarm must be installed in any private garage attached to the dwelling, that is not associated with the dwelling, that: is located on or near the ceiling, and is a class type A1 or A2 heat alarm complying with AS1603.3, and
• is powered from the mains electricity supply; or by a non-removable battery with a minimum life expectancy of 10 years that is connected to the heat alarm; and
• is interconnected to and will activate the smoke alarms required in the dwelling.
• If the heat alarm is installed in the private garage attached to the dwelling, durable notices must be permanently fixed to the dwelling and private garage in prominent locations indicating that: (a) a heat alarm is installed in the private garage, and (b) the heat alarm is interconnected to the smoke alarms required in the dwelling.

Dwellings in a Class 2 building and Class 4 part of a building (Clause 5). Class 2 buildings are apartment buildings. They are typically multi-unit residential buildings where people live above and below
each other. A Class 4 part of a building is a sole dwelling or residence within a building of a non-residential nature. There can only be one Class 4 part in a building.

Smoke alarms must:

• be located in every corridor or hallway associated with a bedroom, or if there is no corridor or hallway, in an area between the bedrooms and the remainder of the building, and
• every other storey not containing bedrooms; and (b) be installed on or near the ceiling; and
• comply with AS3786, except where the use of the area is likely to result in smoke alarms causing spurious signals, any other alarm deemed suitable in accordance with AS1670.1 provided that smoke alarms complying with AS3786 are installed elsewhere in the dwelling,
• be powered from the mains electricity supply; or by a non-removable battery with a minimum life expectancy of 10 years that is connected to the smoke alarm; and
• be interconnected, if there is more than one alarm in the dwelling
  

Failure to meet these requirements could result in fines, or put lives at risk.

The full Short-Term Rental Accommodation Fire Safety Standards code, can be found here.

➤ How Often Should You Check Smoke Alarms?
It is the property owner’s / management agency’s responsibility to ensure smoke alarms are:

• Tested every month to confirm they’re working.
• Cleaned every 6 months to remove dust that can affect performance.
• Battery-replaced every year (unless it’s a long-life lithium battery).
• Replaced every 10 years, as even hard-wired alarms degrade over time.
  

Note: If your smoke alarm doesn’t have a “manufacture date” label, it’s already too old and should be replaced.

➤ Short-Term Rentals: What You Should Know
Unlike long-term rentals where tenants may be involved in regular testing, short-term rentals require the host / and or the managing property agent to handle all logistics This includes scheduling regular checks, ensuring batteries are replaced, and staying on top of legal requirements. It is recommended a qualified electrician complete a thorough inspection annually.

➤ General Electrical Safety
Beyond smoke alarms, property owners should consider a broader safety check that includes:

• Checking power points and light switches for damage.
• Avoiding overuse of power boards or extension cords.
• Booking a licensed electrician for an annual inspection — especially in older properties.
  

Team Guest Realty ensures your property isn’t just guest-ready — it’s safety-checked and regulation-compliant.

NOTE: This information is current as at 19 May 2025.