Investor Checklist

There are 14 categories of minimum standards for rental properties.

Bathrooms:

A rental property’s bathroom must have a washbasin and a shower or bath, and be connected to a reasonable supply of hot and cold water.

Showers must have a shower head with a 3-star water efficiency rating. If one cannot be installed, for example because of the property’s age, then a shower head with a 1- or 2-star rating is acceptable.

Electrical safety:

The electrical safety rental minimum standard commenced on 29 March 2023.

Rental properties must have modern switchboards, with circuit breakers and electrical safety switches installed. Electrical safety switches are known as residual current devices (RCD, RCCB or RCBO).

Rental providers are responsible for engaging an electrician to ensure their rental property complies with the electrical safety standard.

Heating: 

All rental properties must have a fixed heater (not portable) in good working order in the main living area.

For rental agreements entered into from 29 March 2023, this must be an energy efficient fixed heater in the main living area. If there is an existing fixed heater that is not energy efficient, the rental provider must upgrade it.

An energy efficient fixed heater must be one of the following:

  • a non-ducted air conditioner or heat pump with a 2 star or above energy rating

  • a gas space heater with a 2 star or above energy rating

  • a ducted heating or hydronic heating system with an outlet in the main living area

  • a domestic solid fuel burning appliance, such as a fireplace or wood burning stove.


Kitchen:

The property must have a kitchen with:

  • a dedicated cooking and food preparation area

  • a sink in good working order connected to a reasonable supply of hot and cold water

  • a stovetop in good working order that has two or more burners.

If there is an oven, it needs to be in good working order.


Laundry:

If there is a laundry on the property, it must be connected to a reasonable supply of hot and cold water.


Lighting:

Inside rooms, corridors and hallways must have access to light to make the areas functional. During the day, natural light can include light borrowed from an adjoining room. At night, renters should have access to artificial light.

These requirements do not apply if the property is registered under the Heritage Act 2017 and has an approved exemption from the standard.


Locks:

The property’s external entry doors must have functioning deadlocks (a ‘deadlock’ is defined as a deadlatch with at least one cylinder) or be fitted with locks that can be unlocked with a key from the outside but can be unlocked without one from the inside.

The only cases where a deadlock doesn’t have to be fitted to a door are when:

  • a door cannot be secured with a deadlock - for example, because of its position

  • it is a screen door in the same door frame as an external door

  • a different type of lock or device is required under another Act or law

  • the door is not accessible because there is another type of security barrier. For example, a locked door to an apartment building, or a locked gate

  • the property is registered under the Heritage Act 2017 and has an approved exemption from the standard.

Mould and Damp:

All rooms must be free from mould and damp caused by or related to the building structure.

Structural soundness:

The property must be structurally sound and weatherproof.


Toilets

The property’s toilet must be in good working order and connected to either:

The toilet must be in a separate room in the property, either by itself, or in an appropriate room like a bathroom or in a combined bathroom-laundry.


Ventilation:

Rental properties must have adequate ventilation in all habitable rooms including the bathroom, shower, toilet and laundry.

The property must meet the appropriate ventilation requirements of the Building Code of Australia, which are different for different kinds of properties. You can search resources in the Australian Building Codes Board resources library.


Vermit proof bins:

Rental providers must supply a rubbish bin and a recycling bin for the renter to use.

The bins can be provided by the local council or purchased elsewhere, as long as they are vermin (for example, rats and mice) proof and meet council collection standards.


Window Coverings: 

Windows in rooms likely to be used as bedrooms or living areas must be fitted with curtains or blinds that can be closed, block light and provide privacy.


Windows: 

All external windows in the rented premises which are capable of opening must have a functioning latch to secure the windows against external entry.

Openable windows must also be able to be left in the open or closed position.