Compliance

Safety Checks for Rental Properties Victoria — Gas, Electrical & Smoke Alarms (2026)

By Joey Don· Co-Founder & CEOPublished 2025-05-22 · Updated 2026-08-17

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Safety Check Schedule — What's Required

Victorian law requires three mandatory safety checks for all rental properties:

Electrical Safety Check:

Frequency: Every 24 months
Cost: $600 + GST
Re-inspection fee (if issues found): $150
Must be conducted by a licensed electrician
Common issues found: outdated switchboards, ungrounded sockets, faulty wiring

Gas Safety Check:

Frequency: Every 24 months
Covers: All gas appliances, connections, and ventilation
Must be conducted by a licensed gas fitter

Smoke Alarm Inspection:

Frequency: Every 12 months (annual)
Covers: Battery replacement, functionality test, placement verification
Hard-wired alarms still need annual testing

Bundled pricing: We offer a 3-check package for $500–$650 + GST covering all three checks. This saves approximately $200–$300 compared to booking separately.

Common Issues & Remediation Costs

These are the most frequent issues found during safety checks, with real costs from our maintenance team:

Electrical Issues:

Switchboard upgrade (pre-1990s boards): $1,500+
Main switch upgrade: $350
Individual socket grounding fix: $280 per socket
Whole-house downlight and exhaust fan replacement: ~$2,000

Gas Issues:

Carbon monoxide leak repair: Varies (emergency priority)
Flue replacement: $300–$800
Gas connection tightening: Usually included in check fee

Smoke Alarm Issues:

Battery replacement: $10–$20 per alarm
Hard-wired alarm replacement: $150–$300 installed
Additional alarm installation (if coverage insufficient): $100–$200 each

Important compliance note: If a safety issue is identified, the landlord must address it before the property can be rented (or continue to be rented). Our team provides a 30-day advance notice before each check is due, with auto-scheduling if no response within 5 days — ensuring you never miss a compliance deadline.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Victoria takes rental safety compliance seriously. Penalties for non-compliance include:

VCAT Orders:

Tenants can apply to VCAT for compliance orders
VCAT can order immediate remediation at landlord's expense
Repeated non-compliance can result in compensation orders to the tenant

Insurance Implications:

If a fire or gas incident occurs without valid safety checks, your building insurance claim may be denied
This can result in full liability for property damage AND tenant injury

Tenant Rights:

Tenants can arrange urgent safety repairs up to $2,500 if the landlord is unresponsive
The landlord must reimburse these costs

Our compliance guarantee: Our Ongoing Team tracks every safety check due date across all managed properties. We send reminders 30 days in advance, schedule tradespeople, and manage the entire process. No landlord in our portfolio has ever received a non-compliance penalty.

Best practice: Schedule your electrical and gas checks together (both 24-month cycles). This reduces call-out fees and ensures both are always in sync.

Common questions

How often is each safety check required?

Electrical safety every 24 months, gas safety every 24 months, and smoke alarm inspection every 12 months. Each must be done by the appropriately licensed trade — electrician, gas fitter, and an annual alarm service that includes battery replacement, functionality testing and placement verification.

What does an electrical safety check cost?

$600 + GST for the check itself, with a $150 re-inspection fee if issues are found and need to be verified after repair. Common findings are outdated switchboards, ungrounded sockets and faulty wiring.

Is there a cheaper way to run all three checks?

Yes — a bundled 3-check package covering electrical, gas and smoke alarms costs $500-$650 + GST, saving roughly $200-$300 against booking each separately. Scheduling gas and electrical together also keeps their 24-month cycles in sync and reduces call-out fees.

Do hard-wired smoke alarms still need annual testing?

Yes. Hard-wiring removes the battery-replacement burden but not the annual inspection requirement — functionality testing and placement verification are still required every 12 months.

What do common remediation items cost?

Switchboard upgrade $1,500+, main switch upgrade $350, socket grounding $280 per socket, whole-house downlights and exhaust fans around $2,000. On the gas side, flue replacement runs $300-$800; smoke alarm replacement is $150-$300 installed for hard-wired units.

What happens if a check is missed and something goes wrong?

Tenants can seek VCAT compliance and compensation orders, and — the larger exposure — an insurance claim after a fire or gas incident can be denied where safety checks were not current, leaving the landlord personally liable for property damage and tenant injury. Tenants can also arrange urgent safety repairs up to $2,500 and must be reimbursed.

How are due dates tracked so nothing lapses?

Every safety check due date across managed properties is tracked with a 30-day advance reminder, auto-scheduling of the tradesperson if there is no response within 5 days, and certificate storage on completion — a closed loop from reminder to evidence on file.

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