New Victorian Rental Compliance Checklists: What Landlords Need to Know
Without Falling Asleep Reading Legislation (We Promise)
If you’ve been hearing whispers about “new rental compliance rules” in Victoria lately, don’t worry — you’re not imagining it.
Over the past few years, the Victorian Government has been gradually introducing legislation designed to ensure rental properties meet certain minimum standards before being leased.
In simple terms: before a property can be advertised, offered for rent, or signed into a new tenancy, it needs to tick a few boxes.
Now, the word “compliance” can sound a little intimidating. Some landlords hear it and picture stacks of paperwork, government inspectors with clipboards, and possibly a dramatic courtroom scene at VCAT.
Thankfully, it’s far less dramatic than that. 😅
These regulations simply ensure rental homes are safe, functional, and comfortable for tenants — and with the right property management team keeping an eye on things, the process is very manageable.
Let’s walk through it together.
The Victorian Minimum Standards Checklist
Victoria introduced minimum rental standards to ensure that every rental property meets basic safety and livability requirements before tenants move in.
Think of it as a quick “health check” for the property.
The checklist covers areas such as:
• Bathrooms
• Electrical safety
• Heating
• Kitchen functionality
• Laundry plumbing
• Lighting
• Door locks
• Mould and damp
• Structural soundness
• Toilets
• Ventilation
• Vermin-proof rubbish bins
• Window coverings
• Window locks
Before anyone starts stress-googling renovation quotes — most properties already meet these standards without even realising it.
For example:
✔ The bathroom must have hot and cold water
✔ Windows need working latches
✔ External doors need secure locks
✔ Living areas require heating
None of these requirements are particularly unusual — they’re simply formalised expectations that help ensure rental homes remain safe and comfortable.
However, there is one detail that’s important:
The property must meet these standards before it can be advertised or leased.
Which means completing the checklist before the property hits the market.
Why Some Agencies Are Experiencing Delays
Across Victoria, many larger property management companies have been adjusting to these requirements.
One of the biggest changes has been the increased demand for compliance inspections.
To manage this, many agencies rely on third-party inspection companies to carry out minimum standards checks.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with this approach — but when thousands of rental properties suddenly require inspections, those providers can become very busy.
This sometimes leads to:
• waiting periods for inspections
• delays advertising properties
• slower leasing timelines
• additional communication between multiple companies
And when a property is vacant — particularly during a break lease — every extra day can make a difference.
The Advantage of a Small Independent Agency
One of the benefits of working with a small independent agency is flexibility.
At Us Real Estate, we’ve structured our processes so we can handle many of these compliance checks in-house.
Instead of automatically outsourcing minimum standards inspections, we’re able to review many of these requirements ourselves as part of our routine property preparation process.
In most cases, completing a minimum standards checklist takes around 30 minutes to an hour per property.
Because we can manage this internally, it allows us to move much more quickly.
Rather than waiting for external bookings or juggling third-party schedules, we can often organise the inspection within a few days, sometimes even before the property is advertised.
That helps keep things moving smoothly during busy leasing periods.
How This Helps Our Landlords
Handling these checks internally provides several practical benefits for landlords.
It helps reduce:
• waiting periods for compliance bookings
• unnecessary delays when preparing a property for lease
• the risk of extended vacancy periods
It also allows us to maintain clear communication throughout the process.
When everything is managed by one team, there’s no waiting for external reports, chasing updates, or wondering where things are up to.
Another advantage is cost efficiency.
Third-party compliance services often involve additional inspection fees. While those services absolutely have their place in the industry, being able to complete certain checks ourselves can help minimise unnecessary costs for property owners.
Ultimately, the goal is simple:
prepare the property efficiently, meet compliance requirements, and get it leased without unnecessary delays.
Compliance Is More Than Just One Checklist
Minimum standards are only one piece of the rental compliance puzzle.
Victorian legislation also requires ongoing safety checks throughout a tenancy.
These include:
Electrical Safety Checks
Rental properties must have electrical systems inspected by a licensed electrician every two years.
This ensures switchboards, wiring, safety switches and installations remain safe.
Gas Safety Checks
Gas appliances such as heaters and hot water systems must also be inspected every two years by a licensed gas fitter.
This helps identify potential issues early and ensures appliances are operating safely.
Smoke Alarms
Smoke alarms must be installed and maintained in accordance with regulations, including routine testing and battery replacement.
When managed properly, these checks simply become part of the normal property maintenance cycle.
What Could Be Coming Next
Rental standards across Australia continue to evolve, and Victoria is no exception.
There have been increasing discussions around potential future requirements such as:
Roof Insulation
Energy efficiency has become a growing focus in housing policy, and minimum insulation requirements may eventually become more formalised.
Cooling / Air Conditioning
Currently, Victorian legislation requires heating in the main living area, but cooling is not mandated.
However, with hotter summers becoming more common, cooling requirements may become part of future minimum standards discussions.
Nothing has been formally introduced yet — but it’s an area many property managers are watching closely.
Staying Ahead of the Legislation
At Us Real Estate, our role is to help landlords stay ahead of these changes rather than scrambling to catch up later.
We focus on:
• monitoring legislative updates
• identifying potential compliance issues early
• organising trusted trades when required
• keeping landlords informed in plain English
Because when compliance is managed proactively, it simply becomes another routine part of property management — not a stressful last-minute problem.
And ideally, landlords never have to spend their weekends reading government legislation.
We’ll happily do that part for you. 😄
Let’s Talk Rental Compliance — Without the Legal Headaches
At Us Real Estate, we believe property legislation works best when people actually understand what’s going on.
Minimum standards, safety checks, legislation updates, compliance timelines — it can all start to feel a little overwhelming.
Our role is to help translate that into plain English, practical guidance, and clear next steps so landlords and tenants don’t feel like they’re navigating the rules alone.
Whether you’re:
• A landlord wanting to make sure your property meets the latest standards
• A tenant needing clarity about rental requirements
• Or someone who just heard the words “new legislation” and thought “uh oh…” 😬
We’re always happy to talk it through — no pressure, no judgement.
Your Property Compliance & Support Team
📞 Tamika Thurgood – 0401 431 484
✉️ [email protected]
📞 Monique Robins – (03) 8762 0128
✉️ [email protected]
✨ Here’s to fewer compliance headaches, clearer expectations, and a lot fewer late-night Google searches about rental legislation — one checklist, one conversation, and one property at a time. 🏡