Selling Your Home

Smoke Alarm Compliance Made Simple

Sell with confidence. Avoid delays, penalties and last-minute buyer objections. When you’re selling your home, smoke alarm compliance is one of those details that can quietly cause delays — or suddenly become a negotiation point late in the process. Buyers, conveyancers and building inspectors often want reassurance that the property meets current smoke alarm requirements. Getting this sorted early helps your sale move forward smoothly, without surprises. Property Compliance Australia (PCA) makes smoke alarm compliance simple, fast, and stress-free.

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Amber D.

07:30 19 Jan 26

Good experience, fast and efficient.

Nicola M.

07:22 19 Jan 26

Great experience as a tenant. Felt comfortable with Tim coming in to our home and explaining clearly what his job was on the day. The notice given via email was very helpful so the visit didn’t catch us off guard.
Thank you

Andrew O.

06:22 19 Jan 26

Very polite and professional

Jeremy C.

05:53 19 Jan 26

Fast professional in and out

Jo B.

05:27 19 Jan 26

Polite and friendly. Got the job done quickly

Thyri A.

04:31 16 Jan 26

Very capable, professional and was as minimally disruptive as could be expected!

Mandi J.

03:18 16 Jan 26

Friendly, quick and easy service thank you for your help!

Piimmie P.

02:12 16 Jan 26

Great service today by James he was in and out very quickly very professional. A lot of new technology being used no paper forms to sign Like I’m used to from previous inspections or QR codes and uploaded. Very satisfied with this Service

Shelley S.

02:04 16 Jan 26

We liked everything about property compliance australia

Laura J

00:40 13 Jan 26

The service was conducted thoroughly, efficiently and so fast! Serviceman was really friendly and knowledgeable, and understood that the alarm testing sound was a little triggering to my 3 year old. Highly recommend!

Montse G.

08:37 07 Jan 26

Great service. The technician was friendly, professional, and took the time to clearly explain how the alarm system works. Everything was easy to understand and the experience was smooth overall. Highly recommended.

Natasha N.

00:42 31 Dec 25

I have had a good experience with PCA. I was communicated with via text that they were arriving soon. The technician was very polite and answered all my questions. And he was quick to do the service.

Emily B.

04:11 22 Dec 25

Serviceman provided quick repalcemnt of alarm units.
Response time slow following initial reports of concern and no follow up made, I had to escalate to real estate before action made.
Challenging position as service not local to my property.
All communication has been friendly and informative.

Lizzy C.

02:50 22 Dec 25

Fantastic service from start to finish. The technician was punctual, friendly, and explained everything clearly. The smoke alarms were checked efficiently, and the whole process was stress-free. Great peace of mind knowing everything is compliant and safe. Highly recommend.

Chloe M.

00:54 15 Dec 25

Very accommodating service. We unfortunately forgot to make sure our dog was put away when our first visit was booked, but the staff member who attended was incredibly understanding and allowed us to reschedule for an alternative time that suited us. When he attended the property today, he was very friendly, professional, and easy to deal with. Highly recommend!

WHY Smoke Alarm Compliance

Matters When Selling

Smoke alarm requirements differ by state, but the outcome is the same everywhere: non-compliant alarms can slow settlement, trigger buyer concerns, or lead to last-minute fixes. Even where a formal “certificate” isn’t strictly mandated by law, many sale contracts and conveyancers request evidence of compliance.

Getting compliant before listing helps you:

Avoid settlement delays

Reduce buyer objections or renegotiation

Present your home as safe, prepared, and well maintained

Remove one more thing from your sale checklist

State-by-State

Smoke Alarm Requirements

Smoke alarm rules vary across Australia. Choose your state below to see what applies when selling your home — including compliance expectations and common risks if alarms aren’t up to standard.

Most detailed sale-related requirements

Queensland has some of the most comprehensive smoke alarm legislation in Australia, and it regularly forms part of the contract and settlement process.

What’s required:

Photoelectric smoke alarms compliant with Australian Standard AS 3786
Alarms must be interconnected
installed:
- Every bedroom
- In hallways connecting bedrooms
- On every level of the home
Alarms must be less than 10 years old

How it affects your sale:

Sellers are required to disclose compliance status
Buyers may seek a price adjustment at settlement if alarms are not compliant
Incorrect declarations can create legal risk

Why timing matters:

Leaving this until settlement can lead to delays, negotiation pressure, or unexpected costs.

PCA can inspect, upgrade and provide compliance documentation before you list.

Working, compliant alarms are expected

In NSW, sellers must ensure smoke alarms are installed and functioning in line with fire safety requirements.

What’s required:

Smoke alarms installed on each level of the home
Correct placement near sleeping areas
Alarms must comply with Australian Standards
Alarms must be properly maintained and working

How it affects your sale:

Building and pest inspections often flag outdated or poorly located alarms
Buyers may request rectification or proof of compliance before settlement

How it affects your sale:

Building and pest inspections often flag outdated or poorly located alarms

Why timing matters:

Last-minute upgrades can delay buyer sign-off or trigger negotiation.

PCA checks what you have and upgrades only what’s needed.

General safety compliance expectations

In the ACT, smoke alarms fall under broader residential safety and building compliance expectations.

What’s required:

Working smoke alarms installed and maintained correctly
Compliance with relevant Australian Standards

How it affects your sale:

Building and pest inspections often flag outdated or poorly located alarms
Buyers may request rectification or proof of compliance before settlement

How it affects your sale:

While a sale-specific certificate isn’t always mandatory, buyers and conveyancers often expect evidence that alarms are compliant and functional

Why timing matters:

Issues identified late in the process can create avoidable settlement friction.

PCA provides inspections, upgrades and clear documentation for peace of mind.

Working alarms are mandatory — fines can apply

South Australian law requires smoke alarms to be installed and working in residential properties.

What’s required:

Smoke alarms installed and functioning
Compliance with Australian Standards
Ongoing maintenance by the property owner

How it affects your sale:

Building inspections may flag non-compliance
Buyers may request repairs or confirmation before settlement

How it affects your sale:

While a sale-specific certificate isn’t always mandatory, buyers and conveyancers often expect evidence that alarms are compliant and functional

Penalties & risks:

Fines may apply for non-compliance
More commonly, delays or buyer negotiation pressure

PCA helps ensure your alarms are compliant before inspections occur.

Talk to An Expert

Four-step process

How PCA Makes Smoke Alarm Compliance Easy

Step

01

Book a Compliance Check

Tell us your property details and your sale timeframe.

Step

02

Professional Inspection

Our qualified technicians assess your existing alarms and identify what’s needed to meet current requirements.

Step

03

Upgrade if Required

We install compliant smoke alarms where needed — no unnecessary upselling.

Step

04

Compliance Documentation

You receive clear documentation you can share with your agent, conveyancer or buyer.

Designed for Home Owners

Selling Their Property

PCA works with thousands of property owners, agents and conveyancers across Australia. We understand the pressure of sale timelines and make compliance straightforward.

Fixed pricing

Fast turnaround

Licensed technicians

Clear reporting

No guesswork

FAQ’s

We want to help you by giving frequently asked questions

Not always by law — but buyers, contracts and conveyancers often request evidence of compliance.

Yes. Smoke alarms are commonly flagged during inspections or contract review.

Before listing is best. It avoids last-minute stress and buyer negotiation.

Talk to An Expert

Selling Your Home

Matters When Selling

Smoke Alarm Requirements

How PCA Makes Smoke Alarm Compliance Easy

01

02

03

04

Selling Their Property

Fixed pricing

Fast turnaround

Licensed technicians

Clear reporting

No guesswork

We want to help you by giving frequently asked questions

Get in touch and talk to our team