Working smoke alarms are one of the simplest ways to protect your family. They’re cheap, they last for years, and they give you precious time to get out if there’s a fire. Here’s what Victorian homeowners and landlords need to know.

This guide was checked against Consumer Affairs Victoria and Fire Rescue Victoria guidance on 7 October 2026. Rules change, so check consumer.vic.gov.au for the latest.

Hard-wired or battery?

In Victoria, the type of smoke alarm you need depends on when your home was built:

Homes built after 1 August 1997 need smoke alarms hard-wired to mains power, with a battery backup.
Homes built before 1 August 1997 can use battery-powered alarms.
Smoke alarms must meet Australian Standard AS 3786.

Most homes in Point Cook, Williams Landing, Tarneit, Truganina and the newer estates were built after 1997, so they should have hard-wired alarms. Many older homes in Altona Meadows, Laverton and Hoppers Crossing may still have battery alarms. Upgrading to hard-wired, interconnected alarms is the safer choice either way.

Where smoke alarms should go

Fire Rescue Victoria recommends installing smoke alarms in every bedroom and living area, on top of the minimum legal requirement. It also recommends interconnecting them, so that when one alarm goes off, they all sound.

Interconnection matters most in double-storey homes and larger homes. A fire in a downstairs living room might not wake someone asleep upstairs unless the bedroom alarm sounds too.

Testing and maintenance

Press the Test button regularly and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Vacuum around the vents gently to remove dust and cobwebs.
If a battery-powered alarm chirps, replace the battery. Anyone can do that.
Never paint over an alarm or remove its battery to stop false alarms.
Check the expiry or manufacture date on each alarm. Most manufacturers recommend replacing alarms after about 10 years.

Hard-wired alarms are connected to your mains power, so installing or replacing them is electrical work. It must be done by a licensed electrician.

Smoke alarms in rental properties

The rules for rentals are stricter. Rental providers must make sure smoke alarms are correctly installed, in working condition, fitted with batteries where needed, and tested according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Since 25 November 2025, rental providers and their agents must arrange a smoke alarm safety check at least once every 12 months for every rental agreement, no matter when the lease started.

Rental providers must also give renters written information about how each smoke alarm works and how to test it before the tenancy starts.

A broken or faulty smoke alarm is an urgent repair. Renters should report it straight away, and it must be fixed quickly. If the alarm is hard-wired, a licensed electrician needs to replace it.

We do annual smoke alarm checks for landlords and property managers across Wyndham and Hobsons Bay, and can book them together with the two-yearly electrical safety check. Read more in Victorian landlords: your electrical safety check obligations.

Choosing the right alarm

All smoke alarms sold for homes in Australia should meet AS 3786. Photoelectric alarms are the type most commonly recommended by Australian fire services for homes, because they respond well to the smouldering fires that often start at night. When we replace alarms, we fit photoelectric units and, where possible, interconnect them.

In double-storey homes, alarms on both levels and near every bedroom give the best warning. If your home has a long hallway between bedrooms and living areas, an alarm in the hallway helps too.

What happens during a smoke alarm check

We check each alarm is in the right place and correctly installed.
We test every alarm in line with the manufacturer’s instructions.
We check expiry dates and battery backups.
We check that interconnected alarms all sound together.
We replace faulty or expired alarms on the spot where we can.
You get a written record of the check for your files.

Common problems we find

The most common issues are alarms past their expiry date, alarms painted over during renovations, missing or flat backup batteries, and alarms that were never interconnected. In older rentals we also find battery alarms in homes built after 1997, which should have hard-wired alarms.

Signs it’s time to replace your alarms

The alarm is past its expiry date.
It chirps even with a fresh battery.
It doesn’t sound when you press Test.
The case has gone yellow or brown.
Your alarms aren’t interconnected.
You’ve added bedrooms or renovated.

Sources

Need your smoke alarms checked?

We’re a family-owned, licensed electrical business based in Point Cook, with more than 25 years of experience. We work across Williams Landing, Werribee, Hoppers Crossing, Tarneit, Truganina and the rest of Melbourne’s west, and we take emergency calls 24/7. Find out more about our smoke alarms service.

Call us on 0405 418 132, or send a few details and a photo of the job. Every job is quoted before we start.

Call 0405 418 132 Book a Smoke Alarm Check