A safety update for rental properties
If you currently own a rental property around Melbourne, (so you’re someone who is now known as a Rental Provider instead of ‘Landlord’), you will probably already be aware that the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act and 2021 Regulations came into effect in March 2021.
This updated legislation provided a number of new safety related checks for residential rental property owners throughout Victoria to be aware of.
In case you aera unsure about what these laws require, they make it essential that:
- Each smoke alarm in your rental property is not only correctly installed and in working condition, but that it is tested annually according to the manufacturer’s instructions;
- Professional gas and electricity safety checks are conducted every two years; and
- If an electrical or gas safety check has not been conducted within the previous two years at the time a renter moves into the premises, you must arrange an electrical and gas safety check as soon as practicable.
If you would like to read through the full detail of these regulations, they are available online to everyone. However, it is important that the owner of every rental property in Victoria ensures that their property meets these regulations.
With this in mind, if you are at all unsure about your own rental property and how recently these safety checks were undertaken, we would urge you to speak to your Property Manager as soon as possible to ensure your compliance.
Of course, if you have any questions regarding the local rental market or a specific rental property, don’t hesitate to give our Property Management team at Barry Plant Thomastown a call this week on 9466 3233. We’d be more than happy to assist.
In the meantime, stay safe (and warm).
Cheers,
Con Constantinou
Barry Plant Thomastown