Queensland homeowners have been told to comply with new fire alarm laws or risk invalidating their insurance.

From next year, all homes in the state must be fitted with interconnected, photoelectric smoke alarms on every floor and in every bedroom and hallway.

All registered caravans and motorhomes must also have at least one photoelectric smoke alarm.

Already, homes that are sold or leased to tenants, or undergo substantial renovations, must be fully compliant.

From 2027, all owner-occupied homes, units and townhouses must also meet the standards.

Ionisation-only alarms are prohibited and all alarms must be interconnected – if one is triggered, all must sound simultaneously.

Alarms must be either hardwired with a secondary battery power source, or run on a 10-year non-removable lithium battery.

They must be replaced before they exceed 10 years of age.

An Insurance Council of Australia spokesperson said: “If a policyholder makes a claim involving fire damage, the insurer may look to see if lack of compliance with the new laws contributed to the fire damage.

“Most general home insurance policies include reference to an obligation on the policyholder to take all reasonable steps to prevent loss, theft or damage to their property.”