VICTORIAN RENTAL SAFETY CHECKS REQUIRED

Victorian legislation for residential rental properties came into effect on 29th March 2021. The Residential Tenancies Act and Regulations have made updates to safety and compliance requirements that you as a landlords must action. Further information can be found here. 

The main changes are as follows:

• Smoke alarm servicing a minimum of every 12 months, including testing, battery replacement and positioning checks.
• Gas safety checks every 2 years on all gas fixtures and fittings such as heaters, cooktops, water heaters and the mains gas line.
• Electrical safety checks every 2 years of all electrical appliances, fixtures and fittings such as switchboards, power points and light switches.

All three compliance checks must be completed by a suitably qualified person in accordance with the regulation. All records must now be provided to any new renter at the beginning of their new lease or at an annual renewal or for existing tenancies upon request. 

The legislation now confirms penalties for each breach of legislation not undertaken as required. Each penalty unit is $165.22 and failure to provide a Condition Report under section s.35(1) of the Residential Tenancies Act confirming the above checks is 25 penalty units or a total of $4130.00.

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