What To Know About The NSW Smoke Alarm Laws

Understanding the new smoke alarm laws can help you safely and securely protect your property. Under Division 7A of Part 9 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation Act of 2000, these safety measures must be installed in all buildings where people sleep overnight. These provisions came into effect on the 1st of May 2006 and are implemented to ensure all households are fully protected in case of emergency. The legislation provides a minimum level of protection and a preferred type of connection between devices. Read on to find out more about these guidelines.

For Homeowners

The newer additions to the legislation stipulate that these alarm systems must be installed on every level of your home to ensure complete and secure coverage. If they are not in certain areas, you are at risk of no detection when a fire starts. This umbrella of dwellings includes owner-occupied homes, rental properties, relocatable homes, caravans and even camper-vans or any other residential space where people will be sleeping. In addition, these devices must be placed in hallways near bedrooms, a few when rooms are clustered or many when they are spread out. If there are no hallways connecting the rooms, each area should have its designation of devices to ensure there are no blind spots. Therefore, you must have smoke alarms on all levels of your home, even if there are no bedrooms located on that level.

For Tenants

The legislation also mandates that you are not responsible for ensuring your residence meets the minimum requirements as a tenant. But instead, it is up to your landlord to ensure standards are met. For example, there must be at least one working device installed on every level of your home. As a tenant, it is your responsibility to notify your landlord or agent if you ever discover that a device is no longer working or is faulty. In addition, tenants must notify their landlord if or when they change a battery in a smoke alarm or engage a licensed electrician to repair or replace an alarm. This notice ensures that the landlord has the relevant information to responsibly manage the systems, as is their obligation. The different circumstances where a tenant can change a battery or employ a licensed electrician are provided by the Department of Fair Trading NSW’s website and can give you the insight you need to manage this responsibly and correctly.

For Landlords

From 23 March 2020, NSW landlords and agents need to ensure that these devices are installed in all rented properties and are in complete working order. Where a device is no longer in working order, landlords and agents must ensure it is repaired within two business days. In addition, landlords and agents must check these systems every year to ensure they are working correctly.

Find out more about the new smoke alarm laws from our skilled professionals. We can ensure your home is up to standard with a reliable and trusted system. Contact us today to find out more about these devices.