Minimum standards
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This information is a guide and should not be used as a substitute for professional legal advice.
Summary
Under Victoria’s rental laws, a landlord (officially called the rental provider) has a legal duty to make sure that a rental property meets certain basic standards, known as ‘minimum standards’. These standards cover things like ventilation and mould, locks on entry doors, and the provision of certain facilities, including bathrooms and heating. The standards apply when a property is advertised for rent as well as during your lease (officially called the rental agreement). There are some exceptions for heritage-listed properties.
The minimum standards apply if you moved into your rental property on or after 29 March 2021. The date you move in becomes the start date of your lease. Renewing a fixed-term lease or changing to a periodic (month to month) lease after 29 March 2021 does not ‘restart’ the lease under the law. If you moved into your rental property before 29 March 2021, the minimum standards do not apply.
If your rental home does not meet the minimum standards, there are steps you can take. If you have signed the lease but not yet moved in, you can either immediately end the lease, without penalty, or move in and send the landlord or their agent a request for ‘urgent repairs’. If you have already moved in, you should send a request for urgent repairs. If the landlord or their agent does not attend to this request quickly enough or properly, you can apply to Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria (RDRV) to resolve the issue.
If the landlord or their agent does not tell you before you sign a lease that the property does not meet minimum standards in some way, this is an offence under Victoria’s rental laws. From 25 November 2025, it also an offence for a landlord or their agent to advertise or offer a property for rent that does not meet the minimum standards. These offences can be reported to Consumer Affairs Victoria.
If the minimum standards do not apply because your lease started before 29 March 2021, your landlord still has a legal duty to ensure that the rental property is fit and safe to live in and that any appliances, fittings and furnishings they provide are in good repair.
What is a private rental?
A private rental is a house, unit or apartment you (or your share house) rent from someone (usually the owner) or through a real estate agent. Find out more on our page about private rentals.
The minimum standards
Minimum standards apply to your lease if moved into your rental property on or after 29 March 2021. Additional minimum standards were introduced on 29 March 2022, 20 March 2023 and 1 December 2025. The minimum standards also apply to properties being advertised for rent from 25 November 2025.
If a property is heritage listed, the landlord may not have to meet some of the minimum standards. Exceptions for heritage-listed properties are set out in the minimum standards below. Heritage listing is one of the things you must be told before you rent a property. Learn more on our page about what you need to be told before you sign.
Bathrooms
Your home must have a bathroom, and it must:
- Be connected to a reasonable supply of cold and hot water
- Have a washbasin
- Have a shower or a bath
If there is a shower, the shower head must have a 3-star water efficiency rating unless one:
- Cannot be installed, or
- Would not work effectively due to the age, nature or structure of the plumbing
If a 3-star rated shower head cannot be installed, one with a lower star-rating can be installed.
Bins
A rubbish bin and a recycling bin must be supplied. These bins can be:
- Provided by the local council, or
- Vermin proof and meet local council collection standards
Electrical safety
From 29 March 2023, rental properties must have modern switchboards, with circuit breakers and electrical safety switches installed. Electrical safety switches are known as residual current devices (RCD, RCCB or RCBO).
Your landlord is responsible for getting an electrician to check that the rental property complies with the electrical safety standard.
Heating
The main living room of your home must have a fixed heater that is in good working order – that is, not a portable heater.
For leases before 29 March 2023
An existing fixed heater is not required to be energy efficient if a lease started before 29 March 2023. However, if there is no heater, and one needs to be installed, then it must be energy efficient.
For leases from 29 March 2023
From 29 March 2023, all properties must have a fixed heater that is energy efficient and in good working order installed in the main living area of the home.
An energy-efficient heater is:
- A non-ducted air conditioner or heat pump with at least a 2-star energy rating
- A gas space heater with at least a 2-star energy rating
- A ducted 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
Exception for class 2 buildings
For class 2 buildings, such as apartment buildings, if it is unreasonable to install an energy efficient heater, the landlord must still install a fixed heater in the main living area.
Visit the Victorian Building and Plumbing Commission website to learn more about class 2 buildings.
Kitchens
Your home must have a dedicated area for cooking and food preparation that has:
- A sink in good working order that is connected to a reasonable supply of hot and cold water
- A cooktop in good working order with 2 or more burners
If there is an oven, it must be in good working order.
Heritage exception
There is an exception for heritage-listed properties where the request for a permit to make the required changes has been refused.
Laundries
If laundry facilities are present, they must be connected to a reasonable supply of hot and cold water.
Lighting
Interior rooms, corridors and hallways must have access to sufficient light – natural or artificial – appropriate to the function or use of those rooms.
All habitable rooms must have access to sufficient natural light during daylight hours and sufficient artificial light during non-daylight hours.
Heritage exception
There is an exception for heritage-listed properties where the request for a permit to make the required changes has been refused.
Locks
All external entry doors, other than screen doors, that are not able to be secured with a functioning deadlock must be fitted with a lock that can be operated by a key from the outside.
Exceptions
- Heritage-listed properties where the request for permission to change locks has been refused
- Public lobby doors that open onto common property
Mould and dampness
Each room in your home must be free from mould and damp caused by, or related to, the building structure. This means as opposed to mould and damp that is caused by the way you use the room, such as not using a ventilation fan or window that is provided in a bathroom when taking a shower.
Structural soundness
Your home must be both structurally sound and weatherproof.
Toilets
Your home must have a toilet, and it must be:
- In good working order
- Connected to an appropriate sewerage or wastewater treatment system
- In a room or separate enclosed structure that is intended to be used as a toilet area, whether separately or as part of the bathroom or laundry
Ventilation
All habitable rooms, including bathrooms, shower rooms, toilets and laundries, must have ventilation that meets the Building Code of Australia ventilation standards. You can view these standards on the Australian Buildings Codes Board webpage on ventilation standards.
Windows
All external windows capable of opening must:
- Be able to be set in a closed or open position
- Have functioning latches to secure them against external entry
Window coverings
From 29 March 2022, all properties must have curtains or blinds fitted to each window in any room that is likely to be used as a bedroom or living area.
The curtain or blind must:
- Be able to be opened and closed
- Reasonably block light
- Provide reasonable privacy
Secured cords on internal window coverings
From 1 December 2025, all corded internal window coverings, such as blinds and curtains, must have secured cords.
This means that:
- There must be an anchor installed to secure cords and prevent them from forming a loose loop
- No part of the cord can extend below 1600 mm above floor level
Steps to take if minimum standards are not met
If your rental property does not meet one or more of the minimum standards, there are steps you can take. Which steps to take depend on whether:
- You have seen the property but not signed a lease
- You have signed the lease but not moved in
- You have signed a lease and moved in
If the property is advertised but you have not signed a lease
It against the law for a landlord or their agent to advertise or offer a property for rent that does not meet the minimum standards.
If you have concerns after visiting an inspection or seeing a property advertised online, you can report issues to Consumer Affairs Victoria using an anonymous online form that only takes about 5 minutes to complete.
You can report issues relating to:
- Images or descriptions used to advertise a rental property that may be misleading
- A currently advertised property that does not meet the minimum standards
You can use the online form on the Consumer Affairs Victoria website: Report an issue with an advertised rental property.
If you have signed a lease but not moved in
If you have signed a lease on a rental property that does not meet minimum standards on or before the day you receive the keys, you can decide whether you still want to move in or not.
If you do not want to move into a property that does not meet minimum standards, you can end your lease (officially called the rental agreement) without fees or penalty. This is because the property is considered unfit or unsafe to live in.
To do so, you need to send an immediate ‘notice of intention to vacate’. For more information on how to send an immediate notice of intention to vacate, see our page on ending or breaking your lease.
If you note that urgent repairs are needed on the condition report when you move in, the law considers this a written request for urgent repairs.
Otherwise, once you have moved in, call your landlord (officially called the rental provider) or their agent immediately to request an urgent repair to bring the property up to the minimum standards. You should immediately follow this up with a request in writing. (If your landlord or their agent doesn’t do the repairs properly and you want to take further action, you will need to show that you requested the repairs in writing.)
If your lease (officially called a rental agreement) started after 29 March 2021, and you are requesting urgent repairs to meet minimum standards, Tenants Victoria has a letter template you can use: Letter requesting urgent repairs to meet minimum standards [Word]
If the problem happens after hours, use the emergency contact number that should be in your lease. You could also call the agent, even if they are closed, as there may be a recorded message about dealing with urgent repairs after hours.
As soon as you ask the landlord or agent for urgent repairs, they should start arranging a suitably qualified person to do them, even if it is after hours or on the weekend or a public holiday.
In some situations, you can complete the repairs yourself and claim reimbursement from the landlord or their agent.
To learn more about how to request urgent repairs and how they should be handled by your landlord or their agent, see our pages on repairs and maintenance and Consumer Affairs Victoria guidelines.
Before you sign a lease (officially called a rental agreement), the landlord (officially called the rental provider) must tell you if the property meets the minimum standards. It is an offence under the Residential Tenancies Act to not give you this information. For information on what you need to be told when looking for a rental property see our page, before you sign.
You can report an offence to Consumer Affairs Victoria, which can fine the landlord or their agent if they have failed to follow the law.
Consumer Affairs Victoria has an online complaint form, or you can call them on 1300 55 81 81.
If you have already moved in
Once you have signed a lease and moved into the property, if you notice that one or more of the minimum standards are not met, fixing this issue is considered an urgent repair. This means that the landlord or their agent has certain obligations to meet when fixing the problem.
Call your landlord (officially called the rental provider) or their agent immediately to request an urgent repair to bring the property up to the minimum standards. You should immediately follow this up with a request in writing. For help with your written request, see our Repairs Toolkit.
If the problem happens after hours, use the emergency contact number that should be in your lease (officially called a rental agreement). You could also call the agent, even if they are closed, as there may be a recorded message about dealing with urgent repairs after hours.
As soon as you ask the landlord or agent for urgent repairs, they should start arranging a suitably qualified person to do them, even if it is after hours or on the weekend or a public holiday.
In some situations, you can complete the repairs yourself and claim reimbursement from the landlord or their agent.
To learn more about how to request urgent repairs and how they should be handled by your landlord or their agent, see our pages on repairs and maintenance and Consumer Affairs Victoria guidelines.
If the problem is not fixed as soon as possible, you can apply immediately to Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria (RDRV) to get the urgent repairs done.
Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria (RDRV) is a free service that helps resolve rental disputes early, without needing to go to a formal hearing at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
Learn how to apply to RDRV for urgent repairs on our page about repairs and maintenance. See also our page on going to RDRV.
You do not have to reach agreement at RDRV. If you and your landlord (officially called the rental provider) cannot resolve all the issues through RDRV, or if either side does not wish to continue with RDRV, you can ask the resolution coordinator to refer the dispute to VCAT for a formal hearing.
VCAT will then let you know the time, date and location of the hearing. The VCAT hearing may take place in person, by phone or by video. For urgent repairs, the VCAT hearing is usually held within 2 business days of RDRV receiving your application. Learn more about what happens at VCAT on our page, going to VCAT.
Note: If you are unsure whether your landlord has fixed the problem quickly enough, Consumer Affairs Victoria has guidelines you can use to work this out. Find out more on our page about the Consumer Affairs Victoria guidelines.
You might be able to get compensation from the landlord (officially called the rental provider) if they did not arrange the urgent repairs or took too long to arrange them.
Telling the landlord or their agent that you are going to claim compensation might also help speed up the repairs.
Generally, it is easier to claim compensation after the repairs are completed, so that you can calculate the full loss you suffered. You can also claim compensation after you have moved out by including it as part of an application to Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria (RDRV) for your bond.
If VCAT has ordered your landlord to do repairs, and they have not been done, you can renew your repairs application and include a claim for compensation.
Find out more on our page about claiming compensation.
If the landlord (officially called the rental provider) or their agent fails to complete urgent repairs on time or properly, this is an offence under Victorian rental laws.
You can report an offence to Consumer Affairs Victoria, which can fine the landlord or their agent if they have failed to follow the law.
Consumer Affairs Victoria has an online complaint form, or you can call them on 1300 55 81 81.
Get help and other resources
If you need support when a rental home does not meet minimum standards, help is available.
Tenants Victoria services
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Renter Support Line
For all Victorian renters.
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Live Web Chat
For all Victorian renters.
Other organisations
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Anika Legal
For Victorian renters who cannot afford a private lawyer.
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Federation of Community Legal Centres
For all Victorians.
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Tenancy Assistance and Advocacy Program (TAAP)
For Victorian renters in private rentals, rooming houses and caravan parks who are in financial hardship or affected by family violence.
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Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT)
For all Victorians.
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Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria (RDRV)
For all Victorians.
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Consumer Affairs Victoria
For all Victorians.
There are step-by-step guides, self-help tools and other resources to assist you with understanding more about minimum standards, requesting urgent repairs and claiming compensation.
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Letter about urgent repairs to meet minimum standards
You can use this Tenants Victoria letter template to ask your landlord to make urgent repairs to meet the minimum standards for your rental property.
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Consumer Affairs Victoria webpage
Consumer Affairs Victoria has an informative webpage about rental minimum standards.
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Online toolkit for dealing with repairs
Tenants Victoria’s Repairs Toolkit helps you understand your rights and ask for repairs.
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Repairs factsheet
Learn more about repairs and maintenance in this handy Tenants Victoria factsheet.
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Claim calculation tables
Tenants Victoria has a table template for you to calculate and record the details of your compensation claim, as well as examples.
The Residential Tenancies Act 1997 is Victoria’s main law for renting. It describes the rights and duties of renters and landlords in numbered sections.
The sections in this list relate to rental minimum standards. Click on a link to see more about the section.
- Section 65A – Occupation of rented premises that do not comply with rental minimum standards
- Section 65B – Advertising of premises for rent that do not comply with rental minimum standards
- Section 72 – Urgent repairs
- Section 208 – Breach of duty notice
- Section 209 – Application for compensation or compliance for breach of duty
- Section 211A – Matters to be considered by VCAT in a compensation matter
- Section 211B – Director’s guidelines to be considered by VCAT
- Section 506 – Service of documents
The Residential Tenancies Regulations 2021 provide more detail and definitions, and specify updates to the Residential Tenancies Act.
