🚨 The “New Year” Reality Check: 358 Days to Go
As we head into 2026, the clock is officially ticking. This is the final year for the phased rollout. By January 1, 2027, every single home in Queensland must reach full compliance with the interconnected photoelectric smoke alarm legislation.
Pro Tip: Don’t let “new” or “recently renovated” homes fool you!
- The Rule: Legislation is based on the Manufacture Date, not the installation date.
- The Catch:Â A home built in 2020 could easily have had alarms manufactured in 2017 installed. Since alarms must be replaced every 10 years, those units will expire next year. A home with expired alarms (or alarms expiring mid-tenancy) is not compliant.
🌿 Relax—We’ve Got Your Back
Don’t stress! As we carry out our inspections this year, we are doing the heavy lifting for you. We will identify any alarms expiring within the next 12 months and advise you immediately so you can act before the 31 December deadline.
📈 The SEQ Landscape: Why “Wait and See” is Risky
To give you an idea of the scale we are dealing with, there are approximately 1.6 to 1.7 million private dwellings across South East Queensland alone.
The Reality Check:Â While the QLD Government originally estimated a massive volume of homes needing upgrades, the current challenge is the sheer volume of older stock. Even though rentals have been targeted since 2022, thousands of properties still require “top-up” installs to meet the room-by-room requirements, or have alarms hitting that 10-year expiration date right now.
Supply and demand for smoke alarms will skyrocket as we approach the end of the year. Acting swiftly now ensures you avoid the inevitable “December Rush” price hikes and stock shortages.