Safety requirements

It is your duty, or responsibility, to not remove, deactivate or interfere with any of the following safety devices located at your rental property, unless it is reasonable to do so [section 63A]:

• Smoke alarms
• Carbon monoxide alarms
• Residual current devices (circuit breakers)
• Swimming pool barriers
• Fire sprinkler systems, fire hose reels, fire blankets, fire extinguishers, fire windows and fire hydrants
• Security cameras located in a common area
• Any emergency lighting
• Hot-water safety devices [regulation 25]

Note that on this page sections in brackets, such as [section 3], refer to sections in Victoria’s Residential Tenancies Act 1997. Regulations and schedules in brackets, such as [regulation 25], refer to regulations in the Residential Tenancies Regulations 2021. See the end of this page for links to all of these.

Reporting safety device issues

You should report safety devices needing repairs or maintenance to your landlord or agent in writing as soon as possible [sections 62 and 72AA]. Anything that makes the property unsafe or unsecure must be treated by the landlord or agent as an urgent repair [section 3].

Consumer Affairs Victoria’s residential rental agreement form (lease) specifies that renters must give written notice to the landlord or agent as soon as possible if a swimming pool barrier or smoke alarm is not working. This applies to leases (officially called rental agreements) that started from 29 March 2021.

If a smoke alarm is not installed or working correctly, or has not been tested in more than 12 months, you can request that the landlord or agent carry out urgent repairs. They must immediately arrange for the repairs or testing to be done. This law applies no matter when your lease started.

For more information about getting repairs done, see our page on repairs and maintenance.

You can find the residential rental agreement form, which is called Form 1 – Residential Rental Agreement, on Consumer Affairs Victoria’s website.

Relocatable swimming pools

If you want to erect a relocatable pool at your rental property from 29 March 2021, you must first give your landlord or agent written notice and get all necessary approvals [section 27C].

The Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) has more information on relocatable pools and spas.

There are several safety-related duties, or responsibilities, that landlords and agents must undertake. They are included in Consumer Affairs Victoria’s standard form rental agreement [sections 26 and 27C].

Power safety checks

The landlord or agent must make sure gas and electrical safety checks are carried out every 2 years. These must be done by a licenced or registered gas fitter or electrician [Regulations, schedule 3].

Records of the most recent checks must be kept by the landlord or agent until the next one is done, and include:

• The gas fitter’s or electrician’s name
• Registration or licence number
• The date of the check
• Any outstanding recommendations for work on the property’s gas or electricity [section 68B, regulation 30]

Before you sign

Before you sign a new lease, the landlord or agent must tell you the date of the last gas and electrical safety checks and any outstanding recommendations [section 30D, regulation 30].

If checks are not done

If information on gas and electrical safety checks is included in a lease, but have not been done in the last 2 years, the landlord or agent must arrange them as soon as possible [Regulations, schedule 3].

Smoke alarms

No matter when your lease started, the landlord or agent must ensure smoke alarms are correctly installed and working, and are tested every 12 months according to the manufacturer’s instructions. They must also make sure batteries are replaced as required [section 68AA].

When the landlord or agent receives a request to repair a smoke alarm, they must immediately arrange for the repairs to be done.

If the alarm is connected to electricity, any repairs, testing or replacement must be done by a person who is qualified to fix electric smoke alarms [section 68AA].

The landlord or agent must also give you the following information about any smoke alarm before or on the day you move in:

• How it works
• How to test it
• Information about your responsibilities not to tamper with any smoke alarm and to report if any are not working

For more information about the laws for smoke alarms, see our page on Consumer Affairs Victoria Guidelines.

Window coverings

Any property with corded internal window coverings, such as blinds and curtains, must have an anchor installed according to the installation instructions to secure cords and prevent them from forming a loose loop. No part of the cord can extend below 1600 mm above floor level.

While no longer listed as a prescribed safety activity, corded internal window coverings are now part of the rental minimum standards.

Given the significant risk to life from loose cords, it is strongly recommended that landlords and agents ensure their properties comply with this standard. For more information, see our page on minimum standards.

Pool fences

If there is a pool at the property, the landlord or agent must ensure a barrier (pool fence) is installed and is in good working order [Regulations, schedule 3].

Water tanks in bushfire-prone areas

If the property is in a bushfire-prone area and requires a water tank for firefighting, the landlord or agent must ensure:

• The tank is full and clean at the start of the lease
• The tank and its connections are in good repair [Regulations, schedule 3]

The condition report for your lease must include the dates of the most recent:

• Gas and electrical safety checks
• Smoke alarm test
• Pool barrier compliance check [section 35; Regulations, schedule 1]

You are entitled to a copy of the most recent:

• Gas and electrical safety checks
• Pool barrier compliance check

If you want a copy, you must put your request in writing to the landlord or agent, who has 7 days from the time they receive the request to give you a copy [regulation 30].

Failure by the landlord or agent to give you a copy of the most recent checks is a breach of duty under the Residential Tenancies Act 1997. You can give them a ‘notice of breach of duty’ [section 68B]. See our page on Landlord breaches and other notices.

You can also take action to get the repairs done. For more information, see our page on repairs and maintenance.

Rental agreements (leases)
Repairs and maintenance
Landlord breaches and other notices
Minimum standards
Consumer Affair Victoria guidelines