What gets checked
Each alarm is tested with its test button and checked for damage, dust and insects. The battery in a battery alarm, or the backup battery in a hardwired one, is checked or replaced. The expiry date under the battery or on the back is read; the Building and Plumbing Commission advises replacing alarms as the manufacturer specifies, generally after ten years.
Installation matters as much as the beep. Alarms must sit on or near the ceiling of every storey and between each bedroom area and the rest of the house. Buildings built after 1 August 1997 need hardwired alarms with battery backup, and homes built, largely renovated or extended after 1 May 2014 need them interconnected so they all sound together.
Who arranges it
The rental provider. Consumer Affairs Victoria says they must make sure every smoke alarm is correctly installed and working, has batteries, and is tested at least once every 12 months as the manufacturer instructs. Most providers have their agent book it and arrange entry with the renter. A hardwired alarm must be replaced by a qualified electrician, so it makes sense to have one do the check.
An alarm that stops working between checks can't wait for the next one. It's an urgent repair.
The record
A good record lists each alarm by location, with its type and power supply, expiry date, test result and anything replaced, plus the date of the check and when the next is due. Replacing a hardwired alarm is electrical work and comes with a Certificate of Electrical Safety. Keep both with the electrical and gas check records, and in years when the two-yearly electrical check is also due, book them together.
Services that can help
Read more in our guides
- Rental electrical and smoke alarm checks in VictoriaKnow which records to gather, how to arrange access and where to verify the current Victorian requirements.
- Smoke alarms in your rental: a renter's guideWhat Victorian renters can do about smoke alarms, from testing and batteries to reporting faults, and what the rental provider has to arrange and fix.
Related questions
- Am I allowed to change the smoke alarm battery in my rental?Yes.
- How do I check when my smoke alarm expires?Twist the alarm off its base or open the battery cover, as you would to change the battery, and look for a date on the back or under the battery.
- Do older leases now need gas and electrical safety checks?Yes.
- Can a rental's failed gas hot water be replaced with gas after March 2027?No.
Sources for this answer
5 sources, with the date each was checked
- 1.Consumer Affairs Victoria: From 25 November 2025, it will be mandatory for all rental properties to have annual smoke alarm safety checks to ensure they are correctly installed and in working condition. Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 2.Building and Plumbing Commission (formerly Victorian Building Authority): replace the smoke alarm in accordance with manufacturer's specifications – generally after ten years. New units have an expiry date located under the battery. Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 3.Fire Rescue Victoria: Residential home constructed, largely renovated, or extended after 1 May 2014 Interconnected, hard wired smoke alarms that are connected to 240 volt mains power and have a back-up battery. Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 4.Consumer Affairs Victoria: a cooling appliance or service provided by the rental provider is not working the property does not meet minimum standards a safety-related device, such as a smoke alarm or pool fence, is not working Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 5.Energy Safe Victoria: Whenever a licensed electrician completes any electrical installation work, they must provide a Certificate of Electrical Safety (COES). Accessed 30 September 2026.
General information for homes in Victoria. Every installation is different, so treat this as a starting point. Where this answer refers to Victorian safety or rental rules, the sources above have the current requirements.