Rental electrical safety checks in Victoria: what landlords must do

If you own a rental in Victoria, an electrical safety check by a licensed electrician every two years isn’t a nice-to-have — it’s a compliance obligation under the state’s rental minimum standards, and agents increasingly won’t manage properties without the paperwork current.

What the check covers

A proper check works through the installation, not just the smoke alarms: the switchboard and its protection, safety switch operation (trip-tested, not just looked at), earthing, powerpoints and light fittings, visible wiring condition, and any obvious DIY sins left by previous owners or tenants.

What you get

A written record of the check — who did it, licence number, date, what was tested, what passed and anything that needs work. Keep it: you must be able to produce evidence of the most recent check, and it’s your first exhibit if anything is ever disputed.

The traps landlords hit

The two-year clock runs from the last check, not the last tenancy. Changing tenants doesn’t reset anything. Old boards fail checks. If your rental still runs ceramic fuses without RCD protection, budget for a switchboard upgrade rather than paying for a failed check first. Bundling saves money. If you own several properties around Melton, Werribee or Tarneit, batching checks into one run costs less than four separate call-outs.

What it costs

For a standard home in Melbourne’s west, a compliant check is a modest fixed fee — ask for the current price — and Flowsmart schedules directly with tenants, provides the compliance record to you or your agent, and diary-flags the next due date so it never lapses.