The 15 Minimum Rental Standards
Since March 2021, all Victorian rental properties must meet these 15 minimum standards before a tenant can move in. Non-compliance can result in VCAT orders and penalties.
1. Bathroom: Must have a washbasin, shower or bath, and hot and cold water supply. Showerhead must be 3-star water efficiency rating.
2. Electrical Safety: Modern switchboard required. Properties with pre-1990s switchboards need upgrading. Switchboard upgrade cost: ~$1,500. Individual socket grounding fixes: ~$280 each.
3. Heating: Fixed heater in the main living area is mandatory. If installed after March 2023, must be minimum 2-star energy rating. Portable heaters do NOT satisfy this requirement.
4. Kitchen: Must have food preparation area, sink with hot and cold water, and minimum 2 cooktop burners/elements.
5. Laundry: Hot and cold water connection for washing machine required.
6. Lighting: Functional lights in all rooms plus natural light (windows) in habitable rooms.
7. Door Locks: All external doors must have keyed locks externally and open internally without a key (fire safety requirement).
Standards 8–15 — Structure, Ventilation & Safety
8. Mould & Damp: Prohibited in all rooms. Landlord must address structural causes of mould (not just surface cleaning). This includes fixing leaks, improving ventilation, and addressing rising damp.
9. Structural Integrity: Solid structure with no leaks, damage, or deterioration that could affect safety. Roof, walls, and floors must be weatherproof and in good repair.
10. Toilet: Must be functional and in a separate space (can be within the bathroom but must have privacy).
11. Ventilation: Bathroom, kitchen, and laundry must have either an extractor fan or an openable window. Whole-house downlight and exhaust fan replacement: ~$2,000.
12. Garbage Bins: Council-standard, vermin-proof bins must be provided.
13. Windows: All windows must be fully operable with functional locks.
14. Window Coverings: Bedroom and living areas must have curtains or blinds for privacy. This is a common oversight — budget for basic blinds if the property doesn't have them.
15. Blind Cords: Safety anchors required at 1.2m+ height to prevent child strangulation risk.
Our approach: We conduct a full compliance audit before listing any property. Our Reno Team handles all remediation work, ensuring every property meets standards before the first open inspection.
Two-Stage Renovation Strategy
We use a strategic two-stage approach to minimise vacancy time while ensuring compliance:
Phase 1 — Pre-Rental (Critical Path): Focus exclusively on the 15 minimum rental standards. This is the fastest path to getting a tenant in place and rental income flowing.
Typical Phase 1 costs:
- Electrical safety check and remediation: $600 + GST (plus repairs)
- Gas safety check: Included in 3-check package ($500–$650 + GST)
- Smoke alarm inspection: Included in package
- Heating installation (if needed): $800–$2,000
- Minor repairs and cleaning: $350–$650
Phase 2 — Post-Rental (Value Enhancement): Non-critical improvements done after the tenant moves in, during routine maintenance windows.
Examples:
- Full interior repaint: $6,200–$7,000 + GST
- SPC flooring throughout: $62/sqm (example: 70m² = $4,400)
- Kitchen update: $10,000–$12,000
- Bathroom repair: $3,000 (local grout/tile work)
Why two stages? Every week a property sits empty costs you ~$500–$800 in lost rent. By splitting work into "must do before tenant" and "can do after tenant," we typically save landlords 2–4 weeks of vacancy.