We make a distinction between smoke detectors in rental homes and in commercial premises.
Smoke detectors in rental homes
Leases after 2013
If you rent out a house or apartment in the Flemish Region, you are obliged to install a smoke detector if the lease has been set up after 1 January 2013.
However, the tenant is responsible for battery changes.
Leases before 2013
Smoke detectors are not yet compulsory in this case - even if the lease has been automatically renewed after 2013. If the house dates from before 1945, you will have to have provided a smoke detector by 1 January 2016. If that is not the case, you have until 1 January 2019 to sort it out.
If you rent out a dorm room, you do have to provide a smoke detector.
In Wallonia, the installation of smoke detectors is already mandatory for all rental contracts as of 1 July 2006.
In the Brussels-Capital Region, it has been compulsory since 1 July 2005.
Smoke detectors in commercial premises
Smoke detectors are not mandatory in offices and commercial premises. Fire extinguishers are compulsory, but this is the tenant's responsibility.