Queensland’s final phase of smoke alarm legislation: Are you ready?

The countdown is on. After nearly a decade in the making, Queensland’s three-stage smoke alarm legislation is entering its final phase. Many property managers will remember the scramble to ensure the 600,000-plus Queensland rental properties complied with the 2022 deadline. Now, from 1 January 2027, the rules will extend further: every home in Queensland—including rental properties, sales properties, owner-occupied dwellings, caravans and motorhomes—must comply with the same fire safety standards.

What You Need to Know

To meet the upcoming 2027 requirements, all properties must have at a minimum:

• Interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms
• Alarms in every bedroom, hallway and on every level
• Smoke alarms compliant with AS3786-2014 and correctly marked
• 240V hard-wired or 10-year lithium battery-powered alarms

These rules will apply across the board from 1 January 2027 —whether the property is rented, sold, or owner-occupied. Even caravans and motorhomes are included, often requiring specialist advice to achieve compliance.

Why Compliance Matters – Fines, Penalties and Safety

1. Legal and Financial Penalties

If a property does not comply with the required legislation, including the Fire Services Act 1990 (Qld), Fire and Emergency Services (Domestic Smoke Alarms) Amendment Act 2016, Building Regulation 2021 and the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008, the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) may issue fines.

• Maximum penalty: 5 penalty units (approx. $834.50 as of 2025).
• Providing false or misleading information on compliance documents (e.g. Form 24 at settlement) may result in further penalties.

For Queensland residential sales occurring from 1 January, 2022, compliance requirements should be reviewed before contracts are signed:

• Under the REIQ residential contract (Clause 7.9), buyers can request a 0.15% reduction if smoke alarms do not comply at settlement.

Example: On a $700,000 property, this equals a $1,050 penalty.

2. Insurance Risks

Non-compliance may invalidate insurance claims, leaving owners exposed to significant financial loss in the event of a fire. For clarity on how this may apply to your property, it is best to confirm directly with your insurer.

3. Safety Consequences

The greatest risk is, of course, to life. The Fire and Emergency Services (Domestic Smoke Alarms) Amendment Act 2016 was introduced following the tragic 2011 Slacks Creek fire, which claimed eleven lives including 8 children. The aim is clear: to make Queensland homes among the safest in the nation.

Lessons from 2022

When earlier phases came into effect, many properties were incorrectly upgraded by third-party providers unfamiliar with the legislation. Mistakes proved costly—even small errors cost homeowners hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to rectify non-compliance.

We also witnessed a last-minute rush before the deadline, with installation costs rising due to demand and supply shortages. Property owners who acted early avoided both higher prices and compliance stress.

Tools to Simplify Compliance

Smoke Alarm Solutions makes compliance easier and more affordable with resources such as:

• Homeowner compliance checklists and overviews
• Quote & Upgrade Tool

These tools are available at upgrade.smokealarmsolutions.com.au.

Don’t Wait for the Rush

With the 2027 deadline approaching, early planning will:

• Guarantee compliance before the deadline
• Protect residents and safeguard your property investment
• Avoid potential last-minute price spikes and installation delays

➡ Homeowners can begin their compliance upgrade here: Upgrade Smoke Alarm Solutions

Queensland is on track to lead the nation in fire-safe homes. Make sure your properties are part of this safety milestone.