Rental minimum standards in Victoria: a plain-English checklist

Last checked against official sources on 2 October 2026

Victoria’s minimum standards set the basics every rental must meet. This is the list in plain English, with the dates that matter.

When the standards apply

The standards apply to rental agreements that started on or after 29 March 2021, or that started earlier and became periodic (month to month) on or after that date. From 25 November 2025, you must make sure the property meets them before you advertise or offer it for rent.

The 15 standards

1. Bathrooms: a washbasin and a shower or bath with hot and cold water, and showers with a 3-star water efficiency rating.
2. Electrical safety: a switchboard with circuit breakers and residual current devices.
3. Heating: a fixed heater in the main living area, with energy-efficient models required for new agreements from 29 March 2023.
4. Kitchen: a cooking area, a sink with hot and cold water, and a working stovetop with at least two burners.
5. Laundry: a connection to hot and cold water, if there is a laundry.
6. Lighting: natural or artificial light in habitable rooms.
7. Locks: deadlocks or an equivalent on external doors.
8. Mould and damp: rooms free from mould and damp caused by or related to the building structure.
9. Structure: structurally sound and weatherproof.
10. Toilets: a working toilet in a separate room, connected to sewage.
11. Ventilation: adequate ventilation under the Building Code of Australia.
12. Bins: rubbish and recycling bins that vermin cannot get into, supplied by you.
13. Windows: working latches on openable external windows.
14. Window coverings: curtains or blinds in bedrooms and living areas for privacy.
15. Window covering anchors: from 1 December 2025, corded coverings need anchors so the cord cannot form a loop.

These are summaries. The official page has the full detail, so read it before you sign off an item.

Records from 13 October 2026

Consumer Affairs Victoria’s list of changes says rental providers must keep records showing the property met the minimum standards when it was advertised or offered for rent. The detail of what counts is on the official site, so check it. In the meantime, a dated checklist with notes on each standard is a sensible start.

Coming next: energy efficiency

New energy efficiency standards for heating, cooling, insulation and draughtproofing start phasing in from 1 March 2027.

How VicPropGuard helps

VicPropGuard gives you a checklist of the standards to work through for each property, so you can see which have been checked and when. Request early access.

General information only, not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm the current requirements with Consumer Affairs Victoria or a lawyer before you act.