New rules for residential landlords

SMOKE alarm checks in all residential rental properties in Victoria must now be conducted every twelve months by qualified tradespersons, regardless of when the residents first signed their lease, under new State Government reforms.

The reforms also now require gas and electrical safety checks to be carried out every two years.

It is also now compulsory that residential rental providers or the provider’s agent must immediately arrange for repairs to be carried out on faulty smoke alarms.

In 2022, 52-year-old Ballarat renter Simon Scarff lost his life while trying to escape fire in his apartment.

The Coroner’s report was unable to confirm the presence of a smoke alarm in the property.

In the report into Mr Scarff’s death, the Coroner recommended the 2021 reforms for smoke alarm safety checks should be extended to all rental properties regardless of when the residents first signed their lease.

Since then, Mr Scarff’s family have advocated for smoke alarm checks for all Victorian rentals to prevent other families from experiencing the same tragedy.

Minister for Consumer Affairs Gabrielle Williams thanked the Scarff family for their longstanding advocacy following the tragic loss of their loved one.

“Their efforts will make renting safer for all Victorians and save lives,” she said.

“These new requirements will ensure that all rental properties in Victoria have working smoke alarms that are checked regularly – no matter how long someone has been living there.”

To learn more about rental minimum standards and safety checks please visit the Consumer Affairs Victoria website.