Victoria · rental compliance
Victorian rental electrical safety checklist
A plain-language checklist of what Victorian landlords and property managers actually need for the 13 October 2026 rental electrical safety requirement — the rule, what the check covers, what it doesn't, and what you can stop worrying about.
Reviewed by Yiannis Knodarites — licensed electrician, REC 28523 (Energy Safe Victoria)Last updated
Quick answer
From 13 October 2026, every residential rental property in Victoria must have its electrical installation inspected and tested by a licensed electrician at least once every two years, under the Residential Tenancies Regulations 2021 — for all agreements, new and existing. The rental provider keeps the record until the next check replaces it and gives the tenant a copy within seven days of a written request. The check covers the fixed installation: wiring, switchboard, power points, hardwired light fittings and safety switches (RCDs). Only a licensed electrician holding a Registered Electrical Contractor (REC) number can carry it out. Test and tag is a workplace requirement and is not part of residential tenancy obligations.
At a glance
Required vs not required.
For a standard residential tenancy in Victoria — a house, unit or apartment let to a tenant who lives there.
| Required | Not required (common myths) |
|---|---|
| Two-yearly electrical safety check by a licensed electrician (from 13 October 2026) | Test and tag of appliances — that's a workplace OHS rule, not the residential requirement |
| At least one working safety switch (RCD) on the power circuit | A PAT / test-and-tag certificate at the end of a lease |
| Working smoke alarms, maintained per the manufacturer's instructions | A six-monthly emergency-light test from tenancy law (that interval is building regulation, for applicable buildings) |
| The record kept until the next check | The residential rule applied to short-stay / Airbnb — those are treated differently |
| A copy given to the tenant within seven days of a written request | Restarting the two-year clock if a valid check already exists |
What the law requires
The checklist.
A two-yearly electrical safety check
From 13 October 2026, the fixed electrical installation must be inspected and tested by a licensed electrician at least once every two years — under the Residential Tenancies Regulations 2021. It applies to every residential rental agreement in Victoria, new and existing.
A working safety switch (RCD)
At least one safety switch protecting the power circuit is part of the Victorian rental minimum standards (in force since March 2021). A circuit breaker is not a safety switch — it protects wiring from overload, not people from electric shock.
Working smoke alarms
Working smoke alarms are required under the minimum standards, tested and maintained in line with the manufacturer’s instructions.
The record kept until the next check
The rental provider (or the managing agent acting for them) keeps the record of the most recent check until the next check replaces it — Victorian law sets no fixed number of years.
A copy to the tenant within seven days of a request
A copy of the most recent check must be given to the tenant within seven days of a written request; a prospective tenant must be told the date of the check and any outstanding recommendations before signing.
What the check covers
The fixed installation.
The check is an inspection and test of the property's fixed electrical infrastructure — not an audit of the tenant's plugged-in appliances.
- The wiring (the fixed installation)
- The switchboard and its condition
- Power points and hardwired light fittings
- Safety switches (RCDs) — present and correctly operating
- Visible damage, deterioration and unsafe conditions
What you don't need
Less than the market often claims.
Plenty gets sold to landlords as compulsory that isn't the residential requirement. Getting this right saves the owner money they don't owe.
Test and tag of appliances
Test and tag is a workplace OHS requirement. It is not part of the residential tenancy obligations — a standard house, unit or apartment let to a tenant does not need a test-and-tag report.
A fixed periodic emergency-light test from tenancy law
The six-monthly emergency-lighting interval people quote comes from building regulation for applicable buildings, not from residential tenancy law.
The residential rule applied to short-stay
Short-stay accommodation (Airbnb, serviced apartments) can attract both residential and hospitality-sector expectations — worth specific advice rather than assuming either standard applies.
More on the most common myth: test and tag for rental properties — legal requirement, or myth?And the full picture of the check itself: the two-yearly electrical safety check for Victorian rentals.
Rental electrical safety — common questions
When does the two-yearly rental electrical safety check start in Victoria?
From 13 October 2026 every residential rental agreement in Victoria falls under the requirement for a two-yearly electrical safety check by a licensed electrician — including existing leases, not only those signed after that date.
Who is allowed to carry out the check?
Only a licensed electrician — in Victoria, a person or business holding a current Registered Electrical Contractor (REC) number issued by Energy Safe Victoria. It is not a job for a property manager, a handyperson or a general maintenance contractor.
Does a check done before 13 October 2026 still count?
Yes, provided it was carried out by a licensed electrician and the record has been kept. The two-year clock runs from the date of the most recent valid check; you do not have to restart it just because the law is new.
What must the record include?
The address of the property, the date of the check, the name and REC number of the electrician who performed it, and the results — what was checked, what was found, and whether any defects need rectification. Keep it until the next check replaces it, and give the tenant a copy within seven days of a written request.
Is test and tag legally required for a residential rental?
No. Test and tag is a workplace OHS requirement and does not apply to standard residential tenancies. What the law requires is a working safety switch on the power circuit, working smoke alarms, and from 13 October 2026 the two-yearly electrical safety check.
What happens if the check finds a defect?
The rental provider is responsible for arranging repairs by a licensed electrician. A serious defect — such as a non-functional safety switch — must be made safe, which may mean isolating the faulty circuit before the electrician leaves. Less urgent defects are documented for follow-up.
Sources
- Energy Safe Victoria — tenants and renting laws
- Residential Tenancies Regulations 2021 (Vic)
- AS/NZS 3000:2018 — Wiring Rules
General information, not legal advice — confirm your obligations against the current regulations for your property. Thunderman is a licensed electrical contractor (REC 28523, Energy Safe Victoria), not a legal adviser.
Managing rentals? Get the whole portfolio sorted from one sparky.
Send your rental list for review, or call Yiannis on 0434 254 474. He carries out the checks, provides the report and certificate, and only recommends what each property actually needs.