Request Appraisal

Smoke Alarms & Property Safety

Home
/
Smoke Alarms & Property Safety

Smoke Alarms & Property Safety

Keeping Your Home Safe

Safety is a shared priority throughout your tenancy.

Loyal Keeper Group and the property owner have responsibilities to ensure the rental property meets applicable health, safety and minimum housing standards.

Tenants also have responsibilities to take reasonable care of the property, use safety equipment correctly and report faults or safety concerns promptly.

If you notice something that may affect the safety or security of the property, please do not wait until the next routine inspection to tell us.

Smoke Alarms

Smoke alarms are an essential life-safety feature and must remain operational and effective throughout the tenancy.

Queensland rental properties classed as domestic dwellings are required to have compliant photoelectric, interconnected smoke alarms installed in accordance with Queensland smoke alarm legislation.

Smoke alarms must not be removed, covered, painted over, disconnected or otherwise interfered with in a way that reduces their effectiveness.

Property Manager / Owner Responsibilities

For houses, townhouses, units and apartments, the property manager/owner is responsible for ensuring compliant smoke alarms are installed and maintained as required by Queensland legislation.

Before the beginning of a tenancy, including a renewed tenancy, the property manager/owner must:

Test the smoke alarms within the required 30-day period before the tenancy starts or renews
Replace any flat or nearly flat batteries as required within that same period
Ensure the smoke alarms comply with applicable Queensland requirements

These obligations cannot simply be transferred to the tenant.

Tenant Responsibilities During the Tenancy

During the tenancy, tenants are responsible for testing and cleaning smoke alarms at least once every 12 months.

When carrying out routine testing or cleaning:

Follow the manufacturer's instructions
Only undertake tasks that can be completed safely
Do not dismantle the alarm
Do not interfere with electrical wiring
Do not cover, remove or disable the alarm

Where a smoke alarm has a user-replaceable battery and the battery becomes flat or nearly flat during the tenancy, the battery should be replaced as required.

If you are unsure about the type of alarm or battery, please contact our Property Management Team rather than attempting to dismantle the alarm.

Smoke Alarm Beeping or Activating

Cooking or Steam

If cooking or steam activates a smoke alarm:

Remove the source where safe
Ventilate the room
Follow the normal manufacturer instructions

Do not remove, cover or disable the alarm.

Repeated Beeping or Fault

If a smoke alarm:

Continues beeping
Does not respond correctly when tested
Appears damaged
Is hanging loose
Has been damaged or disconnected
Appears to have another fault

please report the issue promptly.

Report Maintenance Through PropertyMe

A repair involving a non-functioning smoke alarm may be treated as an emergency repair depending on the circumstances.

Emergency Repairs – What to Do

Fire or Smoke Emergency

If there is a fire, significant smoke or an immediate threat to life:

Call 000 immediately.

Leave the property if it is unsafe to remain inside.

Once everyone is safe, notify Loyal Keeper Group as soon as reasonably possible:

1300 880 824

24/7 Urgent Reporting

Access for Smoke Alarm Work

Loyal Keeper Group, the property owner or an authorised smoke alarm contractor may need access to the property to:

Test smoke alarms
Maintain smoke alarms
Install or replace alarms
Carry out compliance work

Where the usual entry notice provisions apply, a minimum of 48 hours' notice will be provided before entry for smoke alarm installation, maintenance, testing or replacement.

Inspections, Entry Notices & Access

Minimum Housing Standards

All Queensland rental properties must meet minimum housing standards when the tenant moves in and throughout the tenancy.

These standards are intended to ensure rental properties are safe, secure and reasonably functional.

Safety and Security

The property must generally:

Be weatherproof and structurally sound
Have fixtures and fittings in good repair and not likely to cause injury through normal use
Have functioning locks or latches on external doors and windows that can be reached from outside without a ladder
Be free from vermin, damp and mould, except where these conditions have been caused by the tenant
Provide appropriate privacy coverings in rooms where privacy can reasonably be expected

If you notice a problem with a lock, window, door, deck, stair, ceiling, electrical fixture or another part of the property that could create a safety or security risk, please report it promptly.

Reasonable Functionality

Queensland minimum housing standards also require rental properties to have appropriate basic functionality.

Depending on the property, this includes requirements relating to:

Adequate plumbing and drainage
Hot and cold water
Drinking water supply
Bathroom privacy
Flushable and refillable toilets
A functioning cooktop where a kitchen is provided
Appropriate plumbing and fixtures where laundry facilities are provided

If one of these essential features stops functioning, please report the issue as soon as possible.

Some failures may also meet the legal definition of an emergency repair, depending on the circumstances.

Emergency Repairs – What to Do

Locks, Doors and Windows

The property manager/owner is responsible for supplying and maintaining the locks required to keep the property reasonably secure.

Minimum housing standards require functioning locks or latches on external doors and windows that can be reached from outside without a ladder.

Please report promptly if:

An external door will not lock
A window lock or latch is broken
A security door cannot be secured
A lock becomes damaged or unreliable
A door or window fault leaves the property unsafe or insecure

A fault that makes the property unsafe or insecure may require urgent attention.

1300 880 824 – 24/7 Urgent Reporting

Electrical Safety

Please report any electrical fault promptly.

Examples include:

Sparking power points
Burning smells
Exposed electrical wiring
Repeated circuit breaker tripping
Electrical fittings becoming unusually hot
Damaged switches or power points

Do not dismantle electrical equipment or attempt electrical repairs yourself.

For a dangerous electrical fault, keep people away from the affected area and contact:

1300 880 824

If there is fire or immediate danger to life, call 000 first.

Water Leaks and Structural Safety

Please report leaks early, even if they initially appear minor.

Examples include:

Water entering through a ceiling
Roof leaks
Water around light fittings
Leaking pipes
Significant dampness
Sagging ceilings
Loose or unsafe stairs, decks or handrails
Structural movement or damage that appears unsafe

Early reporting can help prevent a small problem from developing into significant property damage or a safety issue.

A serious water leak, serious roof leak or structural issue presenting an immediate risk may require emergency action.

Damp and Mould

Rental properties are required to meet minimum housing standards relating to damp and mould, except where the condition has been caused by the tenant.

Because the cause of mould or damp can vary, please report persistent or recurring problems so they can be properly assessed.

When reporting the issue, include: