Legislation – ACT

ACT Smoke Alarm Legislation Simplified Guide

Smoke alarms must comply with the Australian Standard AS3786. The current standard is the AS3786:2014 standard.
A lessor must not enter into a residential tenancy agreement unless smoke alarms are installed per these requirements:
- On any storey that has a bedroom (or another room used as a sleeping area), a smoke alarm must be installed in every hallway associated with a bedroom, and if there’s no hallway or corridor then between the part/s of the home containing the bedroom or sleeping area and the rest of the premises.
- On all storeys that don’t contain a bedroom at the most likely exit point from that storey.
  
  e.g. if the lower level of a two storey home has no bedrooms a smoke alarm should be located between the nearest exit door and the stairwell.
All high set homes with an enclosed room under the house must have a smoke alarm installed in that room.
Property managers and principals have obligations to ensure smoke alarms are both installed and property maintained under the Residential Tenancies Act.