Guides › Electrical › South Australia
Safety switch and smoke alarm compliance for SA rentals
The short answer
South Australia does not require a periodic electrical safety check. The recurring obligations are safety switches, which must be in place before a change of tenancy, and smoke alarms tested within 30 days before a new tenancy starts.
Safety switches and RCDs
Safety switches have been required in new homes, and whenever circuits are modified, since 1991. For rentals, the landlord must make sure they are installed before a change of tenancy, and keep them maintained. The precise trigger wording is worth confirming with the regulator for an individual property, particularly on older installations.
Smoke alarms
Smoke alarms must meet AS 3786:2014. Mains powered alarms are required where the dwelling was built on or after 1 January 1995; otherwise a 10-year sealed battery alarm is acceptable. Alarms must be tested within 30 days before a new tenancy begins.
Worth knowing
Minimum housing standards now apply
Minimum housing standards under the Housing Improvement Act 2016 have applied since 1 July 2024, and they sit alongside the electrical and smoke alarm rules rather than replacing them.
The 1995 build date decides the alarm type
It is the single fact that changes what is acceptable, so it belongs on the report along with the alarm type actually found.
When it needs doing
Change of tenancy is the trigger for both the safety switch requirement and the smoke alarm test.
Who is responsible for what
The landlord must have safety switches installed before a change of tenancy and keep them maintained, and must have the alarms tested within 30 days before a new tenancy. Agents usually coordinate both around the changeover.
What the report should record
A verbal all clear is worth nothing six months later when someone asks for evidence. Whatever you use to do the check, these are the things worth having on the written record in South Australia:
- Property address, and the date the new tenancy starts
- The dwelling build date, since it decides whether mains powered alarms are required
- Alarm locations, types and expiry dates
- Test result for each alarm
- RCD presence, which circuits are protected, and trip test results
- Switchboard condition
- Defects found, with photos
- Signature of the person who did the work
What commonly fails
The defects that turn up most often on South Australia rental properties:
- A post-1995 home still running battery only alarms
- Alarms tested at the inspection but outside the 30 day window before the tenancy
- Safety switches present on some circuits but not others after a partial rewire
- No record of the build date, which leaves the alarm requirement unprovable
Do the check on your phone, hand over the report before you leave
Safety Check Pro walks you through the checkpoints for South Australia, records your test results and photos, and produces a branded PDF report with your own logo on it. Works offline, syncs when you have signal.
See how it works All report types
Free plan includes 4 reports a month. No card needed to start.
Common questions
Do South Australian rentals need an electrical safety check?
Not on a set cycle. The obligations are triggered by a change of tenancy rather than by a fixed inspection interval.
When do safety switches need to be installed?
They must be in place before a change of tenancy, and the landlord is responsible for keeping them maintained.
What type of smoke alarm is required?
An alarm meeting AS 3786:2014. Mains powered where the home was built on or after 1 January 1995, otherwise a 10-year sealed battery alarm.
When do smoke alarms need testing?
Within 30 days before a new tenancy starts.
Other states
VIC NSW QLD WA TAS ACT NT All electrical
Last reviewed: September 2026. This page is general information for tradespeople and property owners, not legal advice. Rental and electrical safety laws change, and the requirements for an individual property can differ. Confirm the current position with SA Consumer and Business Services before you rely on it.