The first night in a new place after a separation is often spent surrounded by half-opened boxes, with a mattress on the floor and the kettle balanced on a crate. Safety checks are rarely top of mind. Yet a few minutes spent on the basics in the first week can prevent the kind of emergency nobody has the energy for right now. This is a simple, practical walk-through for anyone moving into a rental, a newly bought home or a borrowed sleepout.
Smoke alarms: test, count, replace
Start by finding every smoke alarm. Press the test button on each one and listen for a loud, clear beep. A faint chirp or silence means a flat battery or a dead unit. Check the date printed on the back or side; most alarms have a lifespan of about ten years, after which their sensors become less reliable.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand recommends long-life photoelectric alarms in every bedroom, living area and hallway. In practice, that means most homes need more alarms than they have. If you sleep with bedroom doors closed, an alarm inside each bedroom is particularly important. Interconnected alarms, where one sounding sets them all off, give extra warning in larger or two-storey homes.
Renters have specific protections. Landlords must make sure working smoke alarms are installed to the required standard at the start of a tenancy, and tenants are responsible for replacing batteries in some older alarm types and for reporting faults. Tenancy Services explains who is responsible for what, which is worth knowing before something goes wrong.
A quick room-by-room check
Walk through the home with fresh eyes, as if checking it for a friend:
- Kitchen: Does the rangehood work? Is there a fire blanket or small extinguisher? Are there scorch marks near power points?
- Bathroom: Is there an extractor fan? Signs of leaks around the toilet or shower?
- Bedrooms: Can windows be opened as an escape route? Are blind cords out of reach of small children?
- Living areas: Any overloaded multiboxes, frayed cords or heaters close to curtains?
- Outside: Are paths lit? Do the doors and windows lock properly?
Take photos of anything worrying, especially in a rental. A dated photo record helps if questions come up about damage or repairs later.
Water, gas and power
Locate the main water toby, the electrical switchboard and, if the home has gas, the gas shut-off valve. Knowing where these are in the first week can save a lot of damage during a burst pipe or electrical fault. Water damage in particular can be slow and sneaky; leaks under vanities or behind washing machines often go unnoticed for months. The article on water damage found during a separation sale shows how costly hidden leaks can become.
Check that the hot water cylinder is not leaking and that the temperature is set safely, especially if young children will be bathing. If there is a wood burner, ask when the chimney was last swept and make sure there is a clear hearth.
Plan an escape route
Every household should have a simple escape plan, and a new home means a new one. Work out two ways out of each room, agree a meeting place outside such as the letterbox, and walk children through it in a calm, matter-of-fact way. Keep keys for deadlocks somewhere easy to find in the dark. If the children split their time between two homes, make sure they know the plan for each.
Keep a small emergency kit too: torch, spare batteries, a battery radio, water and basic first aid supplies. New Zealand’s earthquakes, storms and floods make that sensible anywhere in the country. Store it somewhere obvious, such as the hall cupboard, and check it each April when the clocks change, swapping out any water or batteries that have passed their date.
Frequently asked questions
How often should smoke alarms be tested? Testing monthly is a good habit, and it only takes a few seconds per alarm. Replace any alarm that fails or is past its expiry date.
Who replaces smoke alarm batteries in a rental? It depends on the alarm type and the tenancy rules. Tenancy Services has guidance on the responsibilities of landlords and tenants.
Do I need a fire extinguisher at home? It is not usually required, but a small extinguisher and fire blanket in the kitchen are inexpensive and useful.