In a move designed to make renting fairer, the Victorian Government has legislated a raft of rights for renters and announced new reforms to give regulators more power to prevent excessive rent increases and ensure rental properties meet standards.
The legislation includes updates to the minimum standards for rental properties and rooming houses which were introduced 3 years ago in 2021.
“New tenants should be able to focus on where they put their couch, not worrying about whether they need to go to VCAT because the mould in the bathroom that was supposed to be removed after the inspection is still there.”
Those are the words of Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan as she announced new regulations for minimum standards in rental properties and rooming houses on 27 November 2024.
Summary of changes:
Minimum rental standards must be met prior to a rental property being advertised
Blind Cord Safety has been included for rental properties, effective 1st December 2024
Minimum Standards for heating in Rooming Houses have been updated - effective 1st December 2024 any heaters installed in a rooming house must be fixed, with requirements for electrical not gas heaters coming into effect from 1st December 2025 and minimum energy efficiency ratings from 1st December 2030.
Proposed changes were announced earlier this year, and following a public consultation period involving over 2400 public responses and lengthy review process by the Minister for Consumer Affairs, the legislation updates were announced on 24th November.
Rental properties and rooming houses are already required to meet rental minimum standards, and these latest regulations changes do not replace these existing requirements.
The updates can be summarised in 3 key points:
Important Timing Change
The first thing for owners and property managers to note is that the legislation now requires properties to meet the minimum standards before the property is listed.
Previously, standards needed to be met prior to the renter moving in – with this latest update they must now be met before the property can be advertised to rent.
Blind Cord Safety
Blind cord safety checks are already a requirement in other states, and with the new regulations are now mandatory in Victorian rental properties, effective 1st December 2024.
This standard can be met quickly and cheaply using simple blind cord brackets. Owners can order a free Blind Cord Safety Kit including screws and fittings for 10 blind cords from Consumer Affairs Victoria at Link here.
(NB Blind Cord Safety is already checked and reported on in a Taskforce Rental Minimum Standards Check)
Heating
Heating is another area of focus and the new regulations focus specifically on rooming houses.
As of 1st December 2024, any heater installed in a rooming house must be fixed.
As of 1st December 2025, any heater installed in a rooming house must be electric, not gas.
As of 1st December 2030, any heater installed in a rooming house must meet the required energy efficiency ratings – ie at least 2-star heating rating, or 3.2 Heating Seasonal Performance Factor for non-ducted or ducted appliances respectively.
Our Recommendations
For rental property owners:
If you have loose blind cords in your property, order your Blind Cord Safety kit from Consumer Affairs Victoria here. These are easy to install and the kit comes with full instructions and all parts.
For rooming house owners:
Whilst immediate requirements call for fixed heaters only, we recommend taking into consideration the future requirements for electric and energy efficient heating options.
The next round or regulation updates to minimum standards may well include requirements for cooling, so considering an energy efficient split system could well save money and hassle in the long run, ensuring you meet standards for your rooming house.
We also recommend taking advantage of the Blind Cord Safety Kits offered by Consumer Affairs to secure loose cords in advance of this becoming a mandated requirement.
Timeline Overview
1/12/2024 - Blind Cord Safety in Rental Properties
1/12/2024 - Fixed Heaters in Rooming Houses
1/12/2025 - Electric (not gas) Heaters in Rooming Houses
1/12/2030 - Energy Efficient Heaters in Rooming Houses
Helpful Links
Note
Rental Minimum Standards are a separate requirement to mandatory Safety Checks for rental properties and rooming houses.
Rental Minimum Standards need to be met prior to a property being listed for rent.
For the duration of the tenancy agreement, smoke alarm safety checks must be conducted annually, with gas and electrical safety checks undertaken every 2 years.
With Taskforce, we align your safety checks so only one annual visit is required for your safety checks, even if all 3 checks are required.
Our rental minimum standards checks already include and report on Blind Cord Safety.
Visit www.taskforce.com.au/rental-minimum-standards to book a check today.