HOME SAFTEY CHECK
What Is Home Safety Check?
The aim of the home safety check is to ensure that the rental property is safe for the tenants.
- Three types of reoccurring safety checks must be completed for all rental properties by law: Residential Tenancy Regulations 2021.
| Home Safety Check Type | To be completed every: |
| Smoke Alarm Check | 1 year |
| Gas Safety Check – if applicable | 2 years |
| Electrical Safety Check | 2 years |
- These checks must be completed by a qualified professional who will provide safety check reports and compliance certificates.
- Any issues mentioned in these reports must be fixed to be compliant.
Documenting compliance checks
Rental providers must provide safety checks within 7 days of receiving a written request for it.
Failure to provide these safety checks is a breach of duty under the Residential Tenancies Act 1997.
Other checks – if applicable:
Pool barrier compliance:
- Rental provider must ensure that pool barriers are maintained in good condition. Supply a pool barrier compliance check as evidence.
Water tank in bush fire prone areas:
- If the premises is in a designated bushfire prone area, a full and clean water tank is required before lease. The water tank and any connected infrastructure must be maintained in good condition.
Penalties
Rental providers that receive a compliance or compensation order from VCAT for committing an offense will have their name, rental address, and their offence listed publicly on the Consumer Affairs Victoria website: Rental non-compliance register. The Director of Consumer Affairs can request a fine from the Magistrates Court.
Fines are listed in [Schedule 5] of Residential Tenancy Regulations 2021.