Short answer: No. In the Netherlands there is no legal maintenance obligation for a burglar alarm in your own home. Maintenance requirements come from your insurance, for example if it requires a BORG-certified system (the Dutch certification scheme for burglary protection). Smoke detectors, however, are a legal requirement in the Netherlands and must work. Maintaining a wireless alarm yourself is simple: monthly testing, batteries, cleaning, app and SIM card.
Our solution
No subscription, maintenance in your own hands
ShieldLink® works with no monthly fees. Alerts come in via the app, and with a Pro or Elite control panel and a SIM card also by SMS and phone call. You do the testing and maintenance yourself.
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Is maintenance a legal requirement?
In the Netherlands, there is no general law for a burglar alarm in your home that says you must have the system maintained or inspected. You are allowed to install a wireless alarm system yourself and keep it up yourself. According to Het CCV (the Dutch Centre for Crime Prevention and Safety), the well-known Dutch BORG certificate for burglary protection is not a legal requirement either.
That does not mean there is never an obligation. It just doesn't come from the law, but from agreements: with your insurer, or from the conditions of a certificate. And for one type of detector there is a legal obligation in the Netherlands: the smoke detector. You can read about both below.
When your insurance requires maintenance
Insurers decide per situation which security they require. In the Netherlands they often use the Improved Risk Classification (Verbeterde Risicoklassenindeling, VRKI) for this, which is promoted by the Dutch Association of Insurers (Verbond van Verzekeraars). For a higher risk, such as business premises with valuable stock, the insurer may require a BORG-certified alarm system. Het CCV writes that BORG is often required by insurers before you can take out insurance.
Such a certificate also comes with a maintenance obligation. According to Het CCV, a BORG-E certificate is valid for five years, provided annual maintenance is carried out by a BORG company. The Dutch industry regulations for the management and maintenance of alarm equipment (Techniek Nederland, Kiwa and VEB) also assume at least one service per year. That maintenance must then be carried out by a recognised security company; doing it yourself does not count in that case.
For most private homes this does not apply. If your policy does list an alarm system as a condition, read what the policy says about how it works and how it is maintained. For businesses, the article wireless alarm system for businesses sets out the considerations.
Smoke detectors: mandatory
Since 1 July 2022, every home in the Netherlands must have a smoke detector on every floor with a habitable room, such as a living room, bedroom or kitchen. An attic or basement used only for storage is excluded. This is now laid down in the Dutch Buildings (Living Environment) Decree (Besluit bouwwerken leefomgeving).
According to the fact sheet from the Dutch Living Environment Information Point (Informatiepunt Leefomgeving), maintaining smoke detectors and replacing batteries falls under the owner's duty of care. If the home is rented out, the tenant can also be held responsible for replacing the batteries. The Dutch fire brigade advises testing smoke detectors monthly with the test button, dusting them now and then, and replacing them after ten years, even if they still work.
Which smoke detectors the Dutch fire brigade recommends and where to put them, you can read in which smoke detectors does the fire brigade recommend.
Checklist: how to maintain your alarm system yourself
Maintaining a wireless alarm system takes little time, but you do have to do it. A sensor with a flat battery or a phone that blocks notifications is something you only notice when it is too late. This checklist keeps things clear.
| What | How often | How |
|---|---|---|
| Test the system | monthly | Arm the alarm, open a door or walk past a motion detector and check whether the alert arrives in the app. Warn housemates or neighbours if the siren goes off. |
| Test smoke detectors | monthly | Press the test button, as the Dutch fire brigade advises. If they are linked to your alarm, also check whether the alert appears in the app. |
| Batteries | when notified or after the stated lifespan | Replace a sensor's battery as soon as it indicates it is almost flat, or when the lifespan stated in the product information has been reached. Then test the sensor again. |
| Clean sensors | a few times a year | Wipe motion detectors and smoke detectors with a dry, soft cloth. Remove cobwebs and check that no cupboard or plant has ended up in front of a motion detector. |
| Check door/window contacts | a few times a year | Check that the sensor and magnet are still directly opposite each other and that the adhesive is still firmly attached. A shifted magnet causes false alarms or no alert at all. |
| Simulate a power cut | once or twice a year | Briefly unplug the control panel and check that the system keeps working on the backup battery. |
| App and phone | with every update | Install app updates and check that notifications are switched on on your phone. Keep the users and phone numbers in the system up to date. |
| SIM card (Pro and Elite) | a few times a year | Check the credit and validity of the SIM card and send a test alert. With prepaid, check your provider's terms to see when an unused card is suspended. |
Dust and cobwebs on the lens of a motion detector can interfere with how it works. A dry, soft cloth is enough; do not use cleaning products or water. If you do detach the detector, test it again afterwards.
Do you often get false alarms? That is usually not a maintenance problem but a matter of placement or settings. How to position motion detectors properly is explained in where to put a motion detector.
Battery life per component
How often you replace batteries varies per component. For Neroo components, the battery life is stated in the product information. The values given are maximum values: how often a sensor is triggered affects consumption.
| Component | What the product information says |
|---|---|
| LockSense Pro | Battery life up to 4 years. According to the product information, the battery lasts two years longer than that of the standard LockSense. |
| LockSense Elite | Battery life up to 10 years. The system automatically warns you when the battery level is low. |
| ShieldSense motion detectors | Energy-efficient design. For maintenance or replacing the battery, you unclip the detector from its holder. |
| SmokeSense smoke detector | Integrated battery that lasts up to ten years. Monthly testing remains wise. |
| ShieldHorn outdoor siren | Runs on solar power; no battery replacement needed. |
| ShieldLink® control panel | Built-in backup battery for power cuts. The Pro control panel keeps working for up to 24 hours without mains power. |
How long an alarm system lasts as a whole and when to replace components is explained in how long does an alarm system last.
So is alarm system maintenance mandatory?
For a home burglar alarm in the Netherlands it is not a legal requirement, only if your insurance or a certificate demands it, but smoke detectors must work, and with a monthly test and a short checklist you can keep any wireless system reliable yourself.
Our solution
No subscription, maintenance in your own hands
ShieldLink® works with no monthly fees. Alerts come in via the app, and with a Pro or Elite control panel and a SIM card also by SMS and phone call. You do the testing and maintenance yourself.
See the options
Frequently asked questions
Is annual maintenance of an alarm system mandatory?
Not by law in the Netherlands. It only becomes an obligation if your insurer requires a BORG-certified system. According to Het CCV, a BORG-E certificate is valid for five years, provided annual maintenance is carried out by a BORG company.
How often should you test an alarm system?
Test the system once a month: arm it, open a door or walk past a motion detector and check whether the alert arrives. Also test smoke detectors monthly with the test button, as the Dutch fire brigade advises.
Who has to maintain the smoke detectors in a rented home?
In the Netherlands, maintenance falls under the owner's duty of care. According to the Dutch Informatiepunt Leefomgeving, the tenant can, however, be held responsible for replacing the batteries.
How long do the batteries of wireless sensors last?
That varies per sensor. The LockSense Pro lasts up to 4 years, the LockSense Elite up to 10 years and the SmokeSense smoke detector up to ten years. How often a sensor is triggered affects the actual lifespan.
Does an installer have to maintain my alarm system?
Only if your insurance or certificate requires it. For a wireless system without a certificate you can do the maintenance yourself: monthly testing, replacing batteries, cleaning sensors and checking the app and SIM card.
Sources and references
- Het CCV (Dutch Centre for Crime Prevention and Safety), Veelgestelde vragen over BORG — accessed September 2026
- Het CCV, Veelgestelde vragen over VRKI — accessed September 2026
- Techniek Nederland, Kiwa and VEB, Voorschriften voor beheer en onderhoud alarmapparatuur (version 3.0, 2022) — accessed September 2026
- Rijksoverheid (Dutch central government), Hoeveel rookmelders moet ik in mijn huis hebben? — accessed September 2026
- Informatiepunt Leefomgeving (IPLO), Infoblad Besluit bouwwerken leefomgeving: Brandmeldinstallatie, ontruimingsalarminstallatie en rookmelders — accessed September 2026
- Brandweer (Dutch fire brigade), Rookmelders: check, koop, plak — accessed September 2026
- Neroo, Product data for LockSense, ShieldSense, SmokeSense, ShieldHorn and ShieldLink® (webshop) — accessed September 2026
