Electrical inspection
New rental laws
For detailed information about the new Victorian residential tenancy laws that came into effect on 29 March 2021, visit the Consumer Affairs Victoria website.
Inspection and testing
The Residential Tenancies Regulations 2021 (‘RTR’) requires that all residential tenancies are verified every two years, by inspection and testing by a licenced electrician to determine whether the installation and all its constituent equipment is in a safe condition for continued use.
For all new rental agreements signed on or after 29 March 2021 rental providers will need to conduct regular gas and electrical safety checks. For more information on the conduct of these checks please see Consumer Affairs Victoria Gas and electricity safety checks guide.
The rental provider (previously referred to as the landlord) is required to ensure this has been carried out and keep records of safety checks.
Meet the requirements of the standard AS/NZS3019:2007
The inspection and testing must be done to the requirements of Section 4 of the Australian/New Zealand standard AS/NZS 3019:2007 Electrical installations–Periodic verification.
AS/NZS 3019:2007 also has a verification certificate (form 1.) that must be completed and signed and given to the landlord or agent.
Certificates of Electrical Safety (COES)
An ESV COES is not the correct form to be used for the inspection and testing.
However, a COES must be issued if any electrical repair or maintenance work is carried out.
Electrical safety checklist
ESV has developed an Electrical Safety Check report covering the requirements of sections 3 and 4 of the Australian/New Zealand standard AS/NZS 3019:2007 Electrical installations–Periodic verification.
ESV has prepared a sample Electrical Safety Check – report, which shows how the report should look once completed.
As an option, electricians and RECs may utilise ESV’s Electrical Installation Audit Report.
These forms can be downloaded and printed to be used in hardcopy, or saved to your computer and filled in online and then emailed to a customer.
Rental providers must ensure that an electrical safety check of all electrical installation and fittings in the premises (in accordance with section 4 of AS/NZS 3019 “Electrical installations—Periodic verification”) is conducted every two years by a licensed electrician.
If requested, they must also provide the renter with the date of the most recent safety check, in writing.
If an electrical safety check has not been conducted within the last two years at the time the renter occupies the premises, the residential rental provider must arrange an electrical safety check as soon as practicable.
If the safety check shows that electrical repairs are needed to make the property safe, a rental provider should engage a Registered Electrical Contractor to carry out the repair work.
Smoke Alarms shall be inspected and tested to ensure they are correctly installed and in working order and tested according to the manufacturer’s instructions at least once every 12 months.
Keep records
ESV recommends RECs and licensed electricians keep a digital record of all electrical safety checklists provided to rental providers. This may be a screenshot from your computer or a photo of the hardcopy taken with your phone. These records should be kept securely.
Providing a record of the safety check
An electrician or REC performing an electrical safety check should provide a record of the electrical safety check to the rental provider. It must include:
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The full name and business details, including the licence number of the electrician or REC who performed the check
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the date of the safety check
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the results of the check, including any repairs required and actions taken to address the repair, and
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confirmation that all installations and fittings have been checked and found to be safe.
