Five changes to Victoria’s rental laws took effect on 13 October 2026. For apartment owners, the one that matters most is a new duty to keep proof that a property met the minimum standards before it was advertised.
Most of this round is about evidence, not building work. An apartment that is compliant but cannot show it is now exposed in a way it was not last week. Here is what changed, what we think it means for owners in the CBD, Southbank, Docklands, East Melbourne and St Kilda Road, and what is coming next in 2027.What changed on 13 October
According to Consumer Affairs Victoria, five changes are now in force.- Proof of minimum standards. Rental providers or their agents must keep records showing the property met the minimum standards before it was advertised, offered for rent or occupied. Those records must be handed to Consumer Affairs Victoria on request.
- Safety checks for every tenancy. Gas and electrical safety checks by a qualified tradesperson are required every two years for all rental agreements, whenever they started. Until now the rule only covered agreements made after 29 March 2021.
- Bond claims need notice and evidence. A rental provider who intends to claim on the bond at the end of a tenancy must tell the renter in advance and provide evidence to support the claim.
- No application fees. It is an offence for a rental provider or agent to charge a renter a fee to apply for a property.
- Gas check before draughtproofing. A licensed or registered gasfitter must check gas ventilation safety within six months before any draughtproofing work is done.
Why the paperwork is the real change
The duty to meet the minimum standards at the point of advertising is not new. It has applied since 25 November 2025, and advertising a property that falls short is already an offence. When the reform was announced, Real Estate Business reported maximum penalties of more than $11,000 for individuals and $59,000 for companies. What is new is the burden of proof. An owner or agent now needs to be able to show the regulator that each of the fifteen minimum standards was met on the day the listing went live. In our view that changes the question an owner should be asking. It is no longer whether the apartment is compliant. It is whether you could prove it tomorrow morning. Consumer Affairs Victoria has indicated it may publish guidance on what records are sufficient. We are not waiting for it. Every property we manage has a minimum standards check completed before it is advertised or re-let, and the evidence goes on file. That evidence includes the inspection checklist, dated photographs, gas and electrical safety check reports, compliance certificates, contractor invoices and proof of any rectification works.What it means for an inner-city apartment
Apartments are generally simpler to keep compliant than houses, but three points deserve attention in our postcodes. Long-standing tenancies are now caught. A renter who has been in place since before March 2021 on a month-to-month agreement may never have triggered a mandatory safety check. That tenancy is now covered. If the last electrical check is more than two years old, or there has never been one, it should be booked without delay. Gas may not apply, electrical always does. Many city towers have electric cooking and centralised hot water, so there may be no gas appliance inside the apartment to check. The electrical check applies to every rental. Where there is a gas cooktop or heater, Consumer Affairs Victoria requires a gasfitter licensed for Type A appliance servicing. The small items are the easy ones to miss. Every rental needs a fixed heater in the main living area, blinds or curtains in bedrooms and living rooms, and an anchor on every corded blind, which has been required since 1 December 2025. They are inexpensive to fix and simple to photograph, so there is no good reason to be caught short on them.What is coming in 2027
New minimum energy efficiency standards phase in from 1 March 2027. This is where real cost can arrive, so it is worth planning for now.| Standard | Starts | What triggers it | What is required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooling | 1 March 2027 | New agreement or a move to month-to-month. All rentals by 1 July 2030 | Fixed, energy efficient cooling in the main living area, three stars or above for a split system |
| Shower heads | 1 March 2027 | New agreement or a move to month-to-month | Four star WELS rating in every shower |
| Ceiling insulation | 1 March 2027 | New agreement or a move to month-to-month | Insulation wherever a ceiling space has none |
| Heating | 1 March 2027 | Existing fixed heater fails beyond repair | Replacement with efficient fixed electric heating |
| Hot water | 1 March 2027 | Existing system fails beyond repair | Replacement with a heat pump or electric-boosted solar system |
| Draughtproofing | 1 July 2027 | New agreement or a move to month-to-month | Seals on external doors, windows and unsealed wall vents |
What owners should do now
- Ask your property manager what records they hold for your apartment and when they were last updated.
- Find the date of your last electrical safety check, and gas check if the apartment has gas. If either is more than two years old, book it.
- Before you advertise or re-let, have a minimum standards check completed, and approve it promptly when your property manager requests one.
- Attend to any item that falls short straight away. It must be rectified before the apartment is advertised, offered for rent or occupied.
- Send your property manager any compliance reports or certificates you arrange yourself, and tell them about works that may affect compliance.
- Check whether the apartment has fixed cooling in the living area. If it does not, ask your owners corporation what its rules allow, and speak with your property manager before arranging any upgrade.
