Gas, Electrical & Smoke Detectors

Gas Safety Checks

Gas appliances, such as heaters and stoves, must be properly maintained by a licensed or registered gas fitter. If gas appliances aren’t maintained, they can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.

Rental providers who enter into a new agreement after 29 March 2021, or have a fixed term agreement of more than five years which rolls over into a periodic tenancy after 29 March 2021 must:

• have gas safety checks conducted every two years by a licensed or registered gasfitter,

• ensure a gas safety check has been conducted within the last 2 years at the time the renter occupies the premises (and if it hasn’t, the rental provider must arrange a gas safety check as soon as possible), 

• keep records of the safety check and provide details if the renter asks, and

• disclose the date of the last gas safety check, and any outstanding recommendations from the safety check before entering into a rental agreement.

For more information on gas safety checks, you can read Energy Safe Victoria's Gasfitter toolkit.

More information on changes to gas safety for rental providers. 

Finding a licensed gas fitter

• A registered or licensed gasfitter is a plumber who holds registration or a licence to carry out gasfitting work with the Victorian Building Authority (VBA). 

• Only gasfitters who are currently registered or licensed in the specialised Type A appliance servicing work are authorised to carry out this work,

• You can find a licensed or registered gasfitters by searching online or using a directory such as the Yellow Pages.

• You can check whether a gasfitter holds registration or a licence in Type A appliance servicing work on the VBA website.

• You can also ask to see the plumber’s card which states that they hold current registration or a licence in Type A appliance servicing work.

• You should ask to see the card that says the plumber holds a current registration or a licence in Type A appliance servicing work which mean they are is qualified to carry out gasfitting servicing work.

Note: Registered plumbers engaging in specialised classes of plumbing work must carry out this work under the supervision of a person licensed in the specialised class.

What the gas safety check covers (from a technical perspective)

A gas safety check means:

a) the following gas installation checks -

1. that LPG cylinders and associated gas components are installed correctly;

2. that appliance gas isolation valves are installed where required by AS/NZS 5601.1 "Gas installations", as published or amended from time to time; 

3. that gas appliances and their components are accessible for servicing and adjustment;

4. that the gas installation is electrically safe;

5. that clearances from appliances to combustible surfaces are in accordance with installation instructions and AS/NZS5601.1 "Gas installations", as published or amended from time to time;

6. that there is adequate ventilation for appliances to operate safely;

7. that gas appliances (including cookers) are adequately restrained from tipping over; 

8. checking the condition of gas appliance flue systems, including chimneys

9. checking gas appliances for evidence of certification; and

(b) testing gas installations for leakage; and
(c) for a standard gas installation, servicing all Type A gas appliances that are part of that installation.
Note: See regulation 12(4) of the Gas Safety (Gas Installation) Regulations 2018, which prescribes a standard under section 72 of the Gas Safety Act 1997 for servicing work carried out on a Type A gas appliance that is part of a standard gas installation. Section 72 of the Gas Safety Act 1997 requires that a person carrying out gasfitting work ensure that the work complies with the standards and requirements prescribed under that Act in relation to that work.

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Evidence of gas safety check

The gasfitter should provide a record of the gas safety check. The document must include:

• the full name and business details, including the licence or registration number, of the gasfitter who did the check

• the date the safety check was conducted

• the results of the check, including any servicing and repairs required and actions taken to address the repair.

• a copy of the record of gas servicing work submitted to the VBA and given to the rental provider under the Gas Safety (Gas Installation) Regulations 2018, for each Type A gas appliance that is serviced as part of the standard gas installation.

Record keeping

Your record of a gas safety check can be either of the following:

• a compliance certificate (if applicable)

• a document from the licensed gas fitter who carried out the safety check.

If you have further gas work carried out after the check, you must also keep the compliance certificate or tax invoice relating to that work.
You must keep the records, including details of the licensed or registered gasfitter, until a record of the next safety check is created. 

A copy of the most recent gas safety check must be provided to the renter within seven days after the rental provider receives a written request from the renter. 

Electrical Safety Checks

Rental providers must ensure that an electrical safety check of all electrical installations and fittings in the premises (in accordance with section 4 of AS/NZS 3019 "Electrical installations—Periodic verification") has been conducted by a licensed or registered electrician every two years. If an electrical safety check has not been conducted within the last 2 years at the time the renter occupies the premises, the rental provider must arrange an electrical safety check as soon as possible. If requested, they must provide the renter with the date of the most recent safety check, in writing.

If the safety check shows that electrical repairs are needed to make the property safe, a rental provider should hire a Registered Electrical Contractor (REC) or a licensed electrician employed by an REC to do the repair work.

Finding a licensed electrician

• A Registered Electrical Contractor employs Electricians that are licensed through Energy Safe Victoria.

• You should ensure that the Registered Electrical Contractor you hire has public liability insurance. Public liability insurance will cover damage if an electrician causes any damage to the property or other people.

• Registered Electrical Contractors are required to hold public liability insurance which will cover their business and any licensed electricians working for them. 

• You can find a Registered Electrical Contractor by searching the web or by visiting the Energy Safe Victoria website.

• You should ask to see the card that provides their electrical licence details.

If you need repairs done after the electrical safety check, you will need to hire a Registered Electrical Contractor (REC) or a licensed electrician employed by an REC. A certificate of Electrical Safety must be completed for any repairs performed on the electrical installation.

Evidence of electrical safety checks

The electrician should provide a record of the electrical safety check, which must include:

• the full name and business details, including the licence or registration number, of the electrician or Registered Electrical Contractor who did the check

• the date of the safety check

• the results of the check, including any repairs that were required and actions taken to address the repair

• confirmation that all installations and fittings have been checked and found safe

Record keeping

A record of an electrical safety check may be any of the following:

• a compliance certificate

• a document from the electrician or Registered Electrical Contractor

• an ‘’Electrical Installation audit report’

A record of the most recent electrical safety check must be kept until a record of the next safety check is created.

A copy of the most recent gas safety check must be provided to the renter within seven days after the rental provider receives a written request from the renter.

You can access further information and guidance and electrical and gas safety checks on the Energy Safe Victoria website.

Newly built homes

If the rented premises is a newly built house or apartment it may not be necessary to conduct a separate gas and electrical safety check. 'Newly built homes' typically refers to homes that have never been occupied.

Gas safety checks

A lodged compliance certificate certifies that the work complies with prescribed plumbing standards. A compliance certificate endorsing a gas installation certifies the installation is in accordance with AS/NZS 5601.1.

This means that the compliance certificate issued for gas installations (which applies to all gas installations identified on the compliance certificate in the premises) will meet the requirements of a gas safety check for the purposes of the new rental laws.

Electrical safety checks

A certificate of compliance within the meaning of section 3 of the Electricity Safety Act 1998 for electrical work will meet the requirement of an electrical safety check for the purposes of the new rental laws. 

If an occupancy permit has been provided for the premises, supported by the appropriate compliance certificates, this will also satisfy the requirement of the initial gas and electrical safety check.

If a rental provider does not have the necessary certificates relating to their property, these can be obtained by contacting the Victorian Building Authority on 1300 815 127 or at  https://www.vba.vic.gov.au/legal/foi.

Smoke Detectors

Source: 

Victorian Building Authority 

Consumer Affairs Victoria

Country Fire Authority (CFA)

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Smoke alarms are compulsory and must be installed in every residential building, on or near the ceiling of every storey.

Residential buildings include the following building classes as broadly defined in the National Construction Code (NCC):

• Class 1a: detached houses, row houses, town houses, terrace houses or villa units

• Class 1b: some boarding houses, guest houses or hostels

• Class 2: buildings containing sole-occupancy units (e.g. apartments, blocks of flats)

• Class 3: backpacker accommodation, residential parts of hotels or motels, residential parts of schools, accommodation for the aged, disabled or children

• Class 4: dwellings in non-residential buildings (e.g. houses attached to shops).

Smoke alarm locations

Smoke alarms need to be positioned to wake sleeping occupants. They must be located between each bedroom area and the rest of the house.

Victoria’s fire services (CFA and FRV) recommend that additional smoke alarms also be installed in every bedroom and living area for the best safety of occupants.

They should be installed on the ceiling at least 30cm from the wall, or where installed on the wall at least 30cm from the ceiling to avoid dead air space.

Smoke alarms must meet the Australian Standard AS 3786 and complying models can be found at most electrical appliance or hardware stores.

Smoke alarm installation

Homes constructed after 1st August 1997 must have smoke alarms connected to 240V mains power and have a backup battery. Homes constructed before 1st August 1997 may have smoke alarms powered by a battery.

CFA and FRV recommend the use of smoke alarms powered by a ten-year lithium battery that last the life of the smoke alarm unit.

Smoke alarms should also be interconnected, so that when any alarm activates, all smoke alarms will sound.

Interconnected smoke alarms can be:

• hard-wired (which should be installed by an electrician), or

• wireless interconnected smoke alarms powered by a ten-year lithium battery (which can be easily installed without requiring an electrician).

Only working smoke alarms save lives

If you are renting a house or unit, it is the landlord's responsibility to ensure smoke alarms are installed and kept in working condition.

Regardless of whether you are renting or living in a home that you own, you should:

• check the smoke alarm is working every month by pressing the test button until the alarm sounds

• replace 9-volt smoke alarm batteries on an annual basis (or if the battery is lithium, replace the smoke alarm unit every ten years).

• replace the smoke alarm in accordance with manufacturer's specifications – generally after ten years. New units have an expiry date located under the battery.

• replace the battery if your smoke alarm emits a warning sound (a high-pitched single beep every 30 seconds)

• clean your alarm regularly with a vacuum cleaner to remove particles that will affect smoke alarm performance

• familiarise yourself with the manufacturer's maintenance guidelines.

A fine can be imposed on an owner who fails to comply with the smoke alarm requirements of the Building Regulations 2018.

More information

• CFA - smoke alarms

• CFA - Information and replacement of smoke alarms