If you rent out a home, the electrical safety check Victoria landlords arrange every two years is about to apply to every tenancy, including the long-running ones. From 13 October 2026, it no longer matters when your lease started. At Direct Point Electrical we have been working on rental properties across Berwick and South East Melbourne since 2012, and this is the change our phones are busiest with right now. Here is what it means for you and how to get ready without a last-minute scramble.
Key insights
- From 13 October 2026, every Victorian rental agreement needs an electrical safety check every two years, whether the lease began before or after that date.
- Only a licensed or registered electrician can carry out the check. Property managers and handypeople cannot.
- Landlords must keep a record showing the electrician's name, licence number, check date and any recommended work, and share it with renters on request.
- Older rentals often have switchboards without safety switches (RCDs), which can mean repairs before the property is compliant, so booking early is wise.
What changes on 13 October 2026
Quick answer: From 13 October 2026, rental providers and their agents must arrange an electrical safety check by a qualified tradesperson every two years for all rental agreements, no matter when the agreement started.
Until now, the two-yearly check was tied to agreements that began after 29 March 2021. That meant a tenant who had stayed put for years may never have triggered a check at all. This is the gap that closes in October. Gas safety checks follow the same two-year schedule, so it makes sense to book both around the same time. You will also need to keep records that show the property met the rental minimum standards when it was advertised. You can read the official wording on the Consumer Affairs Victoria website.
Who can carry out a landlord electrical safety check
Quick answer: Only an electrician who is licensed or registered in Victoria can carry out a rental electrical safety check. A property manager, handyperson or the owner cannot do it.
This is not a job for a multimeter and a good guess. Proper testing means opening the switchboard and working around live parts, which is exactly why Victoria restricts it to licensed trade work. Please never remove a switchboard cover yourself, and don't ask a tenant to. Every Direct Point electrician is licensed and insured, and we work under Electrical Licence REC 22004.
What a rental electrical safety check covers
Quick answer: A rental electrical safety check is a licensed electrician's inspection and testing of the electrical installations, appliances and fittings you supply, finishing with a written report of what was found.
On a typical visit we look at:
- The switchboard, including its condition, labelling and protection devices
- Safety switches (RCDs) and circuit breakers
- Power points and light switches
- Visible wiring and supplied fixed appliances such as ovens and cooktops
- Light fittings and hardwired smoke alarms you have provided
Victoria's rental minimum standards also expect power and lighting circuits to be protected by circuit breakers and safety switches. Older rentals with ceramic fuses or no safety switches are the ones we most often need to upgrade. If your switchboard is due for replacement, our switchboard upgrades team can inspect it and quote the work properly. For a wider look at what an inspection involves, see our guide to electrical safety inspections.
Records every landlord should keep
Quick answer: Keep the electrician's name, licence or registration number, the date of the check and any outstanding recommended work, until the next check is done.
Renters can ask to see the date of the most recent check, and new renters must be told that date and any outstanding recommendations before they sign. If a real estate agent manages your property, ask them for a copy of the report and store it yourself as well. A tidy file now saves a lot of stress if a question ever comes up later.
Common myths we hear from landlords
"My tenant has been here for years, so I am exempt"
That was largely true before. From 13 October 2026 it is not. An old lease is no longer a loophole.
"My property manager takes care of everything"
Agents can arrange the check, but the responsibility sits with the rental provider and their agent together. Ask for the licensed electrician's report, not just a verbal "it's done".
"It all works, so it must be compliant"
Working and compliant are not the same thing. Cable insulation ageing in a ceiling space or a missing safety switch will not announce themselves until something goes wrong. That is what the check is for.
"I can test the safety switch myself"
Pressing the test button on your safety switch every few months is a great household habit. It is not a substitute for a licensed electrician's inspection and testing of the whole installation.
What happens if the check finds problems
Please don't panic. Most rentals we inspect need small fixes, such as adding a safety switch, replacing a cracked power point or splitting an overloaded circuit. We give you a written report, and once we have seen the property we provide a clear upfront quote for any recommended work. We can't give an honest price before an inspection, because every switchboard and every set of wiring is different. Rectification work is done by licensed electricians and comes with the appropriate certification.
If a tenant reports sparking, a burning smell, a shock or a switchboard that feels hot, treat it as urgent and call our emergency electrician team straight away. Please don't try to fix it yourself.
Rental electrical safety check Melbourne's south east
Quick answer: Direct Point Electrical carries out rental electrical safety checks from Clayton to Pakenham and down to Drouin and Frankston, with our base in Berwick.
We look after landlords and property managers in Berwick, Narre Warren, Officer, Beaconsfield, Pakenham, Cranbourne and Clyde, and plenty of suburbs in between. You can see the full list on our service areas page. Availability tends to tighten in the weeks before a deadline like this one, so booking early gives you room to fix anything the check turns up. We also do a free look at smoke alarms and the switchboard at every job, but that is a courtesy and does not replace a formal rental electrical safety check.
Frequently asked questions
How often does a rental property need an electrical safety check in Victoria?
Every two years, carried out by a licensed or registered electrician. From 13 October 2026 this applies to all rental agreements, including those that started before that date.
Does my existing lease count under the new rules?
Yes. From 13 October 2026 the two-yearly check applies to every rental agreement, regardless of the day the lease began.
Can my property manager or a handyperson do the electrical safety check?
No. The check must be done by a licensed or registered electrician. A property manager can arrange it and keep the records, but they cannot carry out the testing.
How much does a landlord electrical safety check cost?
The cost depends on the size of the property, the number of circuits and the condition of the switchboard, so we quote once we know what we are dealing with. Call 1300 317 328 or request a free quote and we will talk you through it.
Book your rental check with a local electrician
Make October a non-event. Call Direct Point Electrical on 1300 317 328 or get a free quote and we will organise a licensed electrician for your rental, with a clear written report you can keep on file.
