What changed at the start of 2026?
The obligation to acquire and maintain smoke alarms passed from the resident to the building owner on 1.1.2026. According to the Government, the owner must ensure that every dwelling has a sufficient number of working smoke alarms. In an apartment block or terraced house the owner is usually the housing company, in a rented flat the landlord, and in a detached house the resident, if they own the house.
On the same day, a new Ministry of the Interior decree on smoke alarms (300/2025) entered into force. It replaced the earlier decree from 2009. The decree has no transition period, so the requirements apply to all homes from the start of 2026.
How many smoke alarms does a home need?
According to the decree, a home must have at least one smoke alarm for every started 60 square metres of each floor or level. The word started is important: a 61-square-metre single-level home needs two alarms, and in a two-storey house each floor is counted separately.
The minimum is not always enough. The Finnish Rescue Association SPEK recommends a smoke alarm in every bedroom and in the hallway, and on upper floors above the stairwell. An alarm has to wake a sleeping person, so a bedroom behind a closed door often needs its own alarm.
- Example: a 55 m² two-room flat on a single level – at least 1 smoke alarm, 2 recommended (bedroom and hallway).
- Example: a 75 m² three-room flat on a single level – at least 2 smoke alarms, 3 recommended.
- Example: a 2-storey 140 m² house, 70 m² per floor – at least 2 + 2 smoke alarms.
Where should a smoke alarm be installed?
The smoke alarm is installed on the ceiling unless the features of the device prevent it. According to the decree, the alarm must be at least 0,5 metres from walls and wall-like structural parts. The placement must take into account the shape of the room, the ventilation and that the alarm sound can be heard.
In practice, do not install the alarm right next to the cooker hood or the bathroom door, because steam and fumes cause needless false alarms. False alarms are a risk because they tempt people to remove the battery.
What is left for the resident to do?
Although the owner is responsible for the alarms, the resident still has an important role. The resident must promptly notify the building owner, for example the housing company or property manager, of faults in smoke alarms, such as a dead battery or a broken device.
SPEK advises testing smoke alarms with the test button 3–4 times a year and always after a longer absence. An easy rule of thumb is to test the alarms whenever the clocks are changed. The clocks will next be changed to winter time on 25.10.2026.
The owner of a detached house is responsible for smoke alarms themselves as before. In a housing company, the board and the property manager should keep records of the apartments, the number of alarms and servicing so that responsibility is easy to demonstrate. Residents, in turn, should report if changes have been made to the apartment, for example a new bedroom with a partition wall, since the layout affects whether the alarm is audible everywhere.
- Press the test button and make sure the alarm can be heard in the bedroom with the door closed.
- Do not remove the battery while cooking – report an alarm that causes false alarms to the owner.
- If the home does not have enough alarms, contact the property manager or landlord in writing.
Carbon monoxide alarm, fire blanket and portable fire extinguisher
The smoke alarm is mandatory, but other safety devices are recommendations. SPEK recommends having a sufficient number of fire blankets and portable fire extinguishers at home and learning how to use them. Extinguishers are placed within easy reach, for example near the kitchen and the front door.
A carbon monoxide alarm is useful in homes with a fireplace or a fuel-burning appliance. Carbon monoxide is an odourless gas that a smoke alarm does not detect.
Why does this matter?
According to the Emergency Services College, there were a total of 11 226 fires in Finland in 2025, and 55 people died in them. A working smoke alarm gives a warning time during which you have time to get out. In Safety Radar you can see current fire and crime statistics and the basic rules of home safety on one page.
Frequently asked questions
Who pays for smoke alarms in a rental home in 2026?
The building owner, i.e. the landlord or housing company, is responsible for acquiring and maintaining smoke alarms from 1.1.2026. The tenant's duty is to report faults without delay.
How many smoke alarms does a 60 square metre home need?
At least one, because the requirement is one alarm for every started 60 square metres of each floor or level. If the dwelling is 61 square metres, two are needed. SPEK also recommends an alarm in every bedroom and in the hallway.
How often must a smoke alarm be tested?
SPEK recommends testing 3–4 times a year and always after a longer absence.
Calculate it yourself
- Smoke alarm calculator: how many smoke alarms are needed? · free
- Security investment payback calculator · free
Ready-made tools
- Home safety check · Smoke alarms, electrics, locking, escape routes and an annual calendar
Sources
- Finlex: Ministry of the Interior Decree on Smoke Alarms 300/2025
- Finnish Government: Changes at the turn of the year in the administrative branch of the Ministry of the Interior (22.12.2025)
- SPEK: Fire safety in homes
- SPEK: Carbon monoxide and heat alarm
- Emergency Services College: The number of fire deaths is cause for concern (2026)
The article is general information and does not replace the guidance of an authority, a lawyer or an adviser. Check up-to-date information from the sources.