Smoke alarms

The Smoke alarms section is in Settings. The board records the smoke alarm installation or last-replacement date, and VAREK calculates when replacement is due and sends reminders well in advance — approximately 12 months, 6 months, and 1 month before the estimated date.

Background: responsibility transferred to the housing company

The 2026 fire-safety reform transferred responsibility for apartment smoke alarms from tenants to the housing company as of 1 January 2026. Smoke alarms must be replaced approximately every 10 years. Record the installation date in VAREK and reminders will come automatically.

Recording the installation date

1. Go to Settings (the gear icon in the menu).
2. Scroll to the Smoke alarms section.
3. Choose a building or leave blank (entire housing company).
4. Enter the installation or last-replacement date and the service life (default 10 years).
5. Save. VAREK automatically adds a deadline to the calendar and will start sending reminders well in advance.

One or several buildings?

If the housing company has several buildings whose smoke alarms were replaced at different times, you can add a separate row for each building. VAREK tracks the earliest replacement need.

Reminders

Once the installation date is recorded, VAREK sends the board automatic reminders:

• ~12 months before the estimated replacement date
• ~6 months before
• ~1 month before

Reminders appear in the dashboard deadline list and are also sent by email digest.

Dashboard nudge

If no installation data has been recorded, the dashboard shows the board a notice: “Smoke alarm responsibility has been transferred to the housing company — record the installation date.” The notice disappears once the first record is saved.

See also

• Housing company Settings
• Warranty periods and deadlines