Rental Minimum Standards Inspections
Victorian Rental Compliance Check

They are 15 standards in Schedule 4 of the Residential Tenancies Regulations 2021 that every Victorian rental property must meet: bathroom, electrical safety, heating, kitchen, laundry, lighting, locks, mould and damp, structural soundness, toilets, ventilation, vermin-proof bins, windows, window coverings and, from 1 December 2025, anchors for corded window coverings. Consumer Affairs Victoria publishes the full list.

Before it is advertised or offered for rent, and again on the day the renter moves in. The advertising rule has applied since 25 November 2025. The standards apply to any agreement that started on or after 29 March 2021, and to older agreements that became periodic (month to month) on or after that date.

The renter can ask for the problem to be fixed as an urgent repair, or end the agreement before moving in. Consumer Affairs Victoria’s Renting Taskforce also inspects rentals and issues fines for letting a renter move into a non-compliant property, with maximum penalties above $11,000 for an individual and above $59,000 for a company.

A building inspector goes through the property against all 15 standards, tests what can be tested on the day (taps, hot water, lights, locks, latches, window coverings, the heater, stovetop and oven) and photographs each item. The report shows which standards are met, which are not, and what is needed to fix the ones that fall short.

No, and it cannot. The electrical safety standard (a modern switchboard with circuit breakers and safety switches) must by law be assessed by a licensed electrician, and the two-yearly gas and electrical safety checks and the annual smoke alarm check are separate trade checks. The inspection records what is in place and flags anything that needs a tradesperson, so you know what to book.

Rental providers (landlords) and property managers before a property is advertised, before a new renter moves in, when an older agreement rolls over to month to month, and after a renter raises a minimum standards complaint. Renters can also book one to get an independent record if they believe the property falls short.

No. A condition report records the state of the property at the start and end of a tenancy so bond claims can be decided. A minimum standards inspection checks whether the property meets the legal minimum to be rented at all. They are often booked together before a new tenancy, and the fix list from the standards inspection is usually dealt with before the entry condition report is done.

A fixed heater in good working order in the main living area. For agreements starting on or after 29 March 2023 it must be an energy efficient type: a non-ducted air conditioner or heat pump rated 2 stars or above, a gas space heater rated 2 stars or above, a ducted or hydronic system with an outlet in the living area, or a solid fuel heater. Apartments can be excused from the energy efficient requirement where it is unreasonable, but still need a fixed heater.

All rooms must be free of mould and damp caused by or related to the building structure. The inspection records visible mould and moisture staining and uses a moisture meter where it helps. Where the cause is not obvious, a thermal imaging and moisture add-on, or a separate mould inspection, can trace the source.

Rooms likely to be used as bedrooms or living areas need curtains or blinds that close, block light and give privacy. From 1 December 2025, any corded internal window covering also needs an anchor fitted so the cord cannot form a loop. Consumer Affairs Victoria offers a free anchor kit, and hardware stores sell them.

Every external entry door (not screen doors) needs a functioning deadlock, or a lock that opens with a key from outside and without a key from inside. Every openable external window needs a working latch that secures it against entry from outside. The inspection tests each door and window by hand.

Yes. All 15 standards apply to apartments, units and townhouses. The only concession is that an apartment can be excused from the energy efficient heater requirement where the owners corporation rules or cost make it unreasonable, provided a fixed heater is still installed and the renter is told before signing.

Rooming houses have their own, separate minimum standards under Victorian law. This inspection is for houses, units, townhouses and apartments let under a standard residential rental agreement.

A licensed or registered gasfitter must carry out a gas safety check, and a licensed electrician an electrical safety check, at least every two years. From 13 October 2026 this applies to every Victorian rental agreement regardless of when it started. Smoke alarms must be checked every 12 months. These checks are booked with the relevant tradesperson; the minimum standards inspection tells you whether records of them are in place.

It depends on the size of the property. Request a quote and the price is confirmed for your property before you book.

Most properties take one to two hours on site. The written report with photos, a pass or fail against each standard, and a fix list is usually delivered within a few business days. Same-day or next-day inspections can often be arranged where a renter is due to move in.

Yes. Access is arranged under the usual notice rules for the rental agreement. Many inspections are booked while a property is vacant between tenancies, which is also the easiest time to carry out any repairs the report calls for.

Yes. A reinspection confirms the failed items have been rectified and gives you an updated report showing the property meets the standards before it is advertised or the renter moves in.

Yes. New minimum energy efficiency standards for Victorian rentals take effect from 1 March 2027. Consumer Affairs Victoria has published the details, and the inspection checklist will be updated when they start.

Use the quote form on this page, or call us Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Tell us the property address, whether it is vacant or tenanted, and the date it is due to be advertised or the renter is due to move in.