RCD & Smoke Alarm ComplianceSale, Lease, Property Managers
WA law has required two RCDs minimum and hardwired interconnected smoke alarms on every property transfer since 2009. I install, test and certify both — and provide the paperwork your conveyancer, property manager or insurer needs.
What WA actually requires
RCDs
Minimum two, covering all socket and lighting circuits, on every residential property at sale or new lease since 2009.
Smoke alarms
Hardwired interconnected (240V mains powered with 10-year sealed lithium backup) on every property at sale since 2009 and every rental property since 2014. Each alarm has a 10-year operational life from the date stamped on the casing.
Both
Require certification documentation at transfer.
What I do
Site assessment of the existing setup. Photos of current board, current alarms, current circuit count.
Install missing RCDs (or replace failing ones) to meet the two-minimum rule.
Install hardwired interconnected alarms (one per bedroom area minimum, hallway placement, BCA clearances from fans and vents).
Trip-time test every RCD with a proper tester. Polarity-check every newly installed alarm.
Certificate of Compliance — proper paperwork your conveyancer, property manager or insurer accepts.
Property managers — bulk routing
If you manage a portfolio of properties and need recurring compliance work, get in touch. Bulk pricing, consistent paperwork format, scheduled around your tenancy calendar.
Common jobs east of the river
Midvale 4-bedroom rental
4 alarms + RCD retrofit + certificate at tenancy turnover, same week.
Bulk property-manager work in Bellevue / Eden Hill / Greenmount
Multiple properties booked in over a fortnight, one set of paperwork per property.
1970s Helena Valley home pre-sale
Older board needed full replacement before RCDs would even fit. Quoted the switchboard upgrade alongside.
Investor portfolio audit
Property manager flagged 6 properties with expired (10-year-old) alarms. Booked all six over two days.
What to SMS
Photo of the existing switchboard, photo of any existing alarms (especially the date stamp on the side), the property address and what triggered the job — sale, lease handover, audit. Fixed quote back from there.
FAQs
I just bought a 1980s home — do I need to upgrade?
At sale, the seller's responsibility was to bring the property to compliance. If they didn't (or the contract waived it), you'll need RCDs and hardwired alarms before any future tenancy or settlement. Worth doing now anyway — RCDs save lives.
How many alarms do I need?
Minimum: one per bedroom area + one in the hallway connecting them + one on every level. Older homes with multiple bedrooms often need 4-6. I'll measure on site and quote exactly.
My alarm beeps every night at 3am. Replacement or fault?
Usually it's hit the 10-year service life and the lithium backup is dying. Check the date stamp on the side. If it's 10 years old or more, full replacement. If it's younger, could be a fault — book in for a check.