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Rental electrical safety checks in Victoria
The short answer
Victoria is the only state that requires a full electrical safety check of the whole installation on a set cycle. Every rented home must have one every 2 years, carried out by a licensed or registered electrician, with the findings reported to the rental provider.
Safety switches and RCDs
Safety switches are covered inside the biennial check rather than by a separate rule. The electrician inspects and tests the installation and records what they find.
Smoke alarms
Smoke alarms in a rented property must be tested annually, and the rental provider is responsible for making sure it happens.
Worth knowing
Gas safety checks run on the same cycle
If the property has gas, a gas safety check is also required every 2 years, carried out by a licensed or registered gasfitter. Plenty of rental providers book both at once.
The check is a report, not just a pass
The electrician inspects, tests, and reports their observations. The deliverable the rental provider needs to keep is the written record of that check, not a verbal all-clear.
When it needs doing
On a rolling 2-year cycle, regardless of whether the tenancy changes.
Who is responsible for what
The rental provider (landlord) is responsible for arranging the check and keeping the record. The agent usually books it on their behalf. The renter has to give reasonable access. The electrician is responsible for the inspection, the testing and the accuracy of what goes on the report.
What the report should record
A verbal all clear is worth nothing six months later when someone asks for evidence. Whatever you use to do the check, these are the things worth having on the written record in Victoria:
- Property address and the rental provider or agent it was done for
- Date of the check and the date the next one falls due
- Name, licence or registration number of the electrician
- Switchboard condition, including main switch, RCDs and circuit breakers
- RCD trip test results, recorded as measured values not just a tick
- Condition of visible wiring, fittings, switches and outlets
- Smoke alarm locations, types and test results
- Any defects found, with photos, and what was recommended
- Signature of the electrician who did the work
What commonly fails
The defects that turn up most often on Victoria rental properties:
- Boards with no RCD protection at all, common on anything pre-1990s
- RCDs that trip but outside the required time, which a tick-box check misses entirely
- Damaged or missing socket outlet covers and light fittings
- Smoke alarms past their replacement date, or missing from a storey
- Unsafe DIY work found in sheds, garages and outdoor areas
Do the check on your phone, hand over the report before you leave
Safety Check Pro walks you through the checkpoints for Victoria, records your test results and photos, and produces a branded PDF report with your own logo on it. Works offline, syncs when you have signal.
See how it works All report types
Free plan includes 4 reports a month. No card needed to start.
Common questions
How often does a rental electrical safety check need to be done in Victoria?
Every 2 years. The clock runs on the check itself, not on the tenancy, so it stays due every 2 years even if the same tenant stays on.
Who can carry out the check?
A licensed or registered electrician. The rental provider arranges it and keeps the record.
Does the gas safety check have to happen at the same time?
It does not have to be the same visit, but it is also a 2-year requirement where the property has gas, so most rental providers line the two up.
What standard does the check follow?
Section 4 of AS/NZS 3019, which covers the periodic inspection and testing of an existing domestic installation.
Other states
NSW QLD SA WA TAS ACT NT All electrical
Last reviewed: September 2026. This page is general information for tradespeople and property owners, not legal advice. Rental and electrical safety laws change, and the requirements for an individual property can differ. Confirm the current position with EnergySafe Victoria before you rely on it.