Rental property safety

The minimum rental standards in Victoria ensure that rental properties are safe and comfortable by describing the minimum basic standard of different features and amenities. These include:

• The property must be structurally sound and weatherproof.
• The property must have modern switchboards with circuit breakers and electrical safety switches.
• Rubbish and recycling bins must be accessible and vermin-proof. Bins may be provided by the council or a private provider.
• All rooms must have adequate ventilation, and must be free from mould and dampness caused by the building's structural issues.
• External windows are able to be secured.
• Windows in bedrooms and living areas must have curtains or blinds to block out light and provide privacy.
• Door locks, toilets and lighting must all be functional and in good working order.
• Bathrooms must have a basin, a shower or bath, and a hot and cold water supply. The showerhead must have a 3-star water efficiency rating or higher.
• If there is a laundry, it must have a hot and cold water supply.
• Kitchens must have a food preparation area, a sink with hot and cold water, and a stovetop with at least 2 burners. If there is an oven, it must be in good working order.
• The main living area must have a fixed heater. For rental agreements commencing from 29 March 2023, this must be an energy efficient heater.

 

Repairs are either classified as ‘urgent’ or ‘non-urgent’. Urgent repairs are defined by the law, and must be made immediately as they make the property unsafe or difficult to live in. Urgent repairs include:

• the gas, electricity or water supply not working
• a gas leak or dangerous electrical fault
• flooding or serious flood, storm or fire damage
• an essential service or appliance not working (such as cooking, heating or the toilet)
• a provided service or appliance not working, or causing water to be wasted
• the property not meeting the minimum standards
• a safety-related device (such as a smoke alarm or pool fence) not working
• any fault or damage in the property that makes it unsafe, not secure or impacts safe access (such as with a lift or staircase).

Anything else not on this list is a non-urgent repair. Non-urgent repairs must be made within 14 days.

How to request a repair

For urgent repairs, use the emergency phone number given by the rental provider when you moved in. Follow up the request in writing.

For non-urgent repairs, put the request in writing using Consumer Affairs' non-urgent repairs request template.

Keep records of all communications.

Options for renters needing urgent repairs

If a renter notifies their rental provider that they need an urgent repair and the rental provider doesn't respond, the renter can:

• make a Consumer Affairs enquiry
• organise and pay for urgent repairs up to $2,500. Keep all receipts and then seek reimbursement from the rental provider. If the rental provider doesn't repay the cost of the repair within 7 days, the renter may apply to VCAT
• apply to VCAT for a repair order if the urgent repairs will cost more than $2,500.

Options for renters needing non-urgent repairs

If a renter has submitted a written request for a non-urgent repair and the rental provider hasn’t made the repair within 14 days, the renter can ask Consumer Affairs Victoria for an inspection.

If the rental provider has not made the repairs specified in the inspection report, the renter may apply to VCAT.

Renters are allowed to make some changes to a rental property, while other changes need approval from their rental provider. At the end of their lease, renters must restore the property to the condition it was in before they made the changes or pay to undo the changes.

Before making changes

Before making changes to a rental property, renters should check:

• whether the change requires permission from the rental provider
• if there are conditions where it might be reasonable for the rental provider to refuse the changes
• whether extra bond needs to be paid to cover the cost of undoing the changes
• the cost of restoring the property to the original condition.

Modifications that don't need approval

• Non-permanent window film for insulation or privacy
• A wireless doorbell
• Replacing curtains (but don’t throw out the original curtains)
• Adhesive child-safety locks on drawers and doors
• Pressure-mounted child-safety gates
• A lock on a letterbox

If the property isn’t heritage-listed, renters may also make the following changes:

• installing picture hooks or screws for wall-mounts, shelves or brackets (excluding on exposed brick or concrete walls)
• installing wall anchors to secure furniture (excluding on exposed brick or concrete walls)
• replacing original showerheads with low-flow ones (but don’t throw out the original showerheads)
• adding removable safety devices such as alarms systems or security cameras
• adding hardware-mounted child-safety gates (excluding on exposed brick or concrete walls).

Modifications that need approval

Renters need approval from their rental provider to make the following changes. However, rental providers can’t refuse unless they have a good reason. Modifications that need approval include:

• installing picture hooks or screws for wall-mounts, shelves or brackets on exposed brick or concrete walls
• installing wall anchors to secure furniture on exposed brick or concrete walls
• installing a security system or flyscreens
• adding a vegetable or herb garden
• adding a secure letterbox
• painting the premises
• modifying external gates to make them more secure
• modifications that relate to health, accessibility, safety, security, or energy and water-efficiency
• modifications that relate to phones or internet.