On the 29th March 2021, the minimum standards compliance for rental properties in Victoria was introduced to ensure that rental properties meet the 14 minimum standards to ensure all rental homes are safe, secure, habitable and compliant.
Under the Residential Tenancies Act 1997, both rental providers (landlords) and their agents—including real estate agencies and property managers—are legally responsible for ensuring properties meet the required standards before being advertised or leased.
Failing to meet the minimum standards for rental properties is a serious offence under the Residential Tenancies Act 1997, and it can result in significant penalties including fines for Individuals of up to $11,855.40 per offence & up to $59,277.00 per offence for companies or agencies. In addition to this rental providers and their agents could face additional VCAT Claims, or potentially be listed on a public register.
To avoid these consequences, it’s essential for rental providers and property managers ensure each property meets the 14 categories of minimum standards before a renter moves in.
A property’s bathroom must have a sink, a shower or bath, and hot and cold water. Showers must have a shower head with a 3-star water efficiency rating. If a rental provider can’t install one – for example, because of the property’s age – a shower head with a 1- or 2-star rating is acceptable.
The property must have a kitchen with:
• a cooking and food preparation area
• a sink in good working order connected to hot and cold water
• a stovetop in good working order that has two or more burners. If there’s an oven, it must be in good working order
Rental properties must have modern switchboards with circuit breakers and electrical safety switches. Rental providers must hire an electrician to check this.
If there’s a laundry, the rental provider must ensure it’s connected to a reasonable supply of hot and cold water.
The property must be structurally sound and weatherproof
Rental providers must supply the renter with rubbish and recycling bins. Bins must be vermin-proof and meet council collection standards.
The property must have curtains or blinds in rooms used for living or sleeping. They must open and close, block light and maintain privacy. Make them safer by installing a curtain and blind safety kit. You don’t need your rental provider’s permission to do so. You can order a free kit from Consumer Affairs Victoria or buy one from a hardware store.
Interior rooms, corridors and hallways must have access to working lights. The property must have natural light during the day. This can include light coming from other rooms. At night, there should be access to artificial light.
External entry doors (other than screen doors) must have functional deadlocks or locks that people can unlock with a key from the outside. You must also be able to open the door without a key from the inside.
There must be a fixed heater in the main living area that’s in good working order. For rental agreements starting from March 2023, this heater should be energy efficient. If an existing heater isn’t energy efficient, the rental provider must upgrade it. Under the standards, an energy-efficient fixed heater is either:
• a non-ducted air conditioner or heat pump with a 2-star or above energy rating
• a gas space heater with a 2-star or above energy rating
• a ducted heating 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
All rooms must have adequate ventilation, including the bathroom, shower, toilet and laundry.
The toilet must be in good working order and connected to a sewerage or septic system. The toilet must be in a separate room, either by itself or in an appropriate room like a bathroom or a combined bathroom–laundry.
All external windows that people can open must have latches. The latches must secure the windows against outside entry. Windows that can open must also be able to be left in the open or closed position
All rooms must be free from mould and damp caused by or related to the building structure.
