A property’s bathroom must have a sink, a shower or bath, and hot and cold water. Showers must have a shower head with a 3-star water efficiency rating. If a rental provider can’t install one – for example, because of the property’s age – a shower head with a 1- or 2-star rating is acceptable.

Rental properties must have modern switchboards with circuit breakers and electrical safety switches. You must hire an electrician to check this.

Interior rooms, corridors and hallways must have access to working lights. The property must have natural light during the day. This can include light coming from other rooms. At night, there should be access to artificial light.

The property must have a kitchen with: • a cooking and food preparation area • a sink in good working order connected to hot and cold water • a stovetop in good working order that has two or more burners. If there’s an oven, it must be in good working order.

If there’s a laundry, you must ensure it’s connected to a reasonable supply of hot and cold water.

External entry doors (other than screen doors) must have functional deadlocks or locks that people can unlock with a key from the outside. These must be able to open without a key from the inside.

There must be a fixed heater in the main living area that’s in good working order. For rental agreements starting from March 2023, this heater should be energy efficient. If an existing heater isn’t energy efficient, the rental provider must upgrade it. Under the standards, an energy-efficient f ixed heater is either: • a non-ducted air conditioner or heat pump with a 2-star or above energy rating • a gas space heater with a 2-star or above energy rating • a ducted heating or hydronic heating system with an outlet in the main living area • a domestic solid fuel-burning appliance, such as a fireplace or wood-burning stove.

All rooms must be free from mould and damp caused by or related to the building structure.

The property must be structurally sound and weatherproof.

The toilet must be in good working order and connected to a sewerage or septic system. The toilet must be in a separate room, either by itself or in an appropriate room like a bathroom or a combined bathroom–laundry.

All rooms must have adequate ventilation, including the bathroom, shower, toilet and laundry.

You must supply the renter with rubbish and recycling bins. Bins must be vermin-proof and meet council collection standards.

The property must have curtains or blinds in rooms used for living or sleeping. They must open and close, block light and maintain privacy. Make them safer by installing a curtain and blind safety kit. You can order a free kit from Consumer Affairs Victoria or buy one from a hardware store.

All external windows that people can open must have latches. The latches must secure the windows against outside entry. Windows that can open must also be able to be left in the open or closed position.