Bond claims
- Advance notice to the renter
- Supporting evidence, not only if disputed
Compliance used to be a checkbox. Now it is a record you must produce.
The duty is to prove you complied, on demand.
- Show the evidence the moment anyone asks.
- Be ready to share with a renter, a tribunal, CAV, or a rent-roll buyer when they ask.
- The new risk is not non-compliance. It is compliance you cannot prove.
Five changes start on 13 October 2026
Three are record duties. Two more close common loopholes. All land on the same day.
Standards records
- Evidence of meeting the 15 standards
Gas & electrical checks
- Checks by a qualified tradesperson every two years
- Keep the records
No application fees
- Providers and agents cannot charge any application fee
Gas check before draughtproofing
- A gasfitter check within 6 months of the work
On the fee ban
Third-party platforms were already banned from charging application and rent-payment fees from 31 March 2026. From 13 October 2026 that ban extends to rental providers and agents themselves.
Bond claims now need notice and evidence
No more lodging a bond claim on your say-so.
- Notify the renter at least 3 days before you claim.
- Attach dated proof for each amount, like condition reports, timestamped photos, quotes and invoices.
- No evidence means a weaker claim a tribunal can reject.
Where it goes wrong
Not damage. A genuine claim with no evidence at the time. An unsigned report or undated photos can sink an honest claim.
Meeting the standards is not enough. Keep the proof.
15 standards. All must be met, on every listing, on every platform.
- Since late 2025, advertising a property that fails a standard is an offence.
- From 13 Oct 2026, you must also keep records proving it met them when advertised.
- LocksExternal doors have working deadlocks or keyed locks.
- Structural soundnessSound, weatherproof and in good repair.
- Mould and dampFree from mould and damp caused by the building.
- KitchenCooking area, sink with hot and cold water, stovetop.
- BathroomWashbasin, shower or bath with hot and cold water.
- ToiletsWorking toilet, connected to approved sewerage.
- LaundryIf present, connected to hot and cold water.
- HeatingFixed, energy-efficient heater in the main living area.
- VentilationAdequate ventilation in habitable rooms.
- LightingAreas are functional by day and night.
- Electrical safetyModern switchboard with circuit breakers and RCDs.
- WindowsExternal openable windows have working latches.
- Window coveringsBedrooms and living areas can be covered for privacy.
- Window-covering anchorsCorded coverings have secure anchors.
- Vermin-proof binsRubbish and recycling bins are supplied.
Why managers care about this one most
Standards evidence is becoming a rent-roll asset. Properties with a clean, documented history are worth more. The ones without it carry hidden liability.
Gas and electrical checks, every two years
A licensed tradesperson checks safety every two years. You keep the record.
- Keep the most recent record until the next check is done.
- A renter can request a copy within 7 days.
- Track the clock per property, so a check is never silently overdue.
The drift trap
A check happens, an invoice is emailed once, and two years later nobody can find it.
“Ticked” is not “proven”
A tick says it happened. Evidence shows it. Only evidence survives a challenge.
Before · a status
- “Smoke alarms, done”
- A checklist row with no attachment
- Photos on a phone, undated
- “I’m sure we sent that notice”
- Records scattered across email and drives
From 13 Oct 2026 · a record
- The certificate itself, dated and signed
- A timestamped photo set tied to the property
- The served notice plus proof of service
- An audit trail of who did what, and when
- One place to produce it all, on demand
One tamper-evident link that proves it all
One link per property. Share it, or attach it when you advertise.
Shareable compliance record
Verifiedsenly.ai/proof/VIC-4821-Q7F2K9
Property
A Melbourne rental · VIC
Last verified
2026-10-14 09:22 AEDT
Tamper-evident ID
sha256·a17f…9c3e
- True as at any date. “Compliant as at 12 March?” is answered with evidence, not memory.
- Hash-chained, so nothing can be quietly edited or back-dated.
- A named person commits each record. No AI guessing, no auto-ticking.
- They see verified evidence, not a folder of files or your say-so.
What you must do, if a property is in Victoria
Same duties whether you manage a book or one place of your own.
Property manager / agent
You carry the duty alongside your client
- Capture standards evidence at advertising, per property
- Schedule and file the two-yearly safety checks
- Build every bond claim on attached evidence
- Keep a record you can produce for CAV, VCAT or a buyer
Self-managing owner
The same duties land on you
- Prove the standards were met when you listed
- Track the two-year safety clock yourself
- Give notice and evidence before touching a bond
- Hold records where you can retrieve them on request
Treat 2026 as an audit year
Start collecting and storing compliance documents now, before an overdue check or a bond dispute forces it. Getting ahead is far cheaper than catching up under pressure.
What it costs if you cannot prove it
Wider than a fine. And the fines are criminal, not fees.
- Claims rejected. VCAT compensation orders. Rent-roll value drops.
- Penalties are criminal offences under the Residential Tenancies Act 1997.
- Priced per penalty unit: $209.10 for FY2026-27. Companies pay the higher rate.
| Breach | Individual | Company |
|---|---|---|
| Property below the minimum standardsLetting a renter move into a non-compliant property (s65A) | $12,54660 units | $62,730300 units |
| No gas & electrical safety recordsFailing the producible-record duty | $31,365150 units | $156,825750 units |
Consumer Affairs Victoria can issue notices and pursue enforcement. Disputes are heard at VCAT. Penalty-unit values are indexed on 1 July each year. Always confirm current figures with Consumer Affairs Victoria.
The dates that matter
- Mar 2023
Heating standard
New agreements need a fixed, energy-efficient heater in the main living area.
- 25 Nov 2025
Advertise-ready standards, annual smoke checks
A property must meet the standards from the moment it is advertised. Annual smoke-alarm checks become mandatory.
- Dec 2025
Corded blinds anchored
Corded internal window coverings must have anchors to secure the cords.
- 31 Mar 2026
Forms and third-party fees
A standard application form, limits on what can be asked, and a ban on third-party platforms charging application or rent-payment fees.
- 13 Oct 2026The shift
Five changes land
Bond claims need notice and evidence. Standards records must be kept and produced. Gas and electrical checks move to a two-year cycle for every agreement. Rental providers and agents cannot charge any application fee. A gasfitter check is required within 6 months before draughtproofing. This is the shift this page is about.
- From 1 Mar 2027
Energy-efficiency phase-in
New energy-efficiency standards roll out: heating, cooling, hot water, showerheads, insulation and draughtproofing.
Common questions
I self-manage one property. Does this apply to me?
Yes. The duties sit with the rental provider, agent or not. You must meet the standards, arrange the checks, keep the records and evidence a bond claim, exactly like an agency does.
I keep the certificates in a folder. Is that enough?
A folder proves a document exists. It does not prove it was unaltered, or what was true on a given date. Any file can be edited and back-dated. A tamper-evident, date-reconstructable record is a much stronger position if you are challenged.
What actually happens on 13 October 2026?
The record-keeping duty for minimum standards begins, gas and electrical checks move to a two-year cycle by a qualified tradesperson, and bond claims must be notified in advance with evidence. The standards themselves already had to be met at advertising from 25 November 2025.
Does Senly do the safety checks?
No. Licensed tradespeople do the checks. Senly is the record. It remembers what is due, surfaces the next action by date, holds the evidence tamper-evidently, and produces the proof when asked. A named person commits each record. Nothing is auto-judged.
Be ready before 13 October 2026, not after your first dispute.
Turn scattered checks, photos and certificates into one verified, shareable record per property. Produce it on demand, for anyone who asks.
Sources
Everything here comes from official Victorian Government and Consumer Affairs Victoria material. This page is general information, not legal advice. Always check the current position with Consumer Affairs Victoria.
- Consumer Affairs Victoria:New changes to the rental laws
- Consumer Affairs Victoria:Minimum standards for rental properties
- Consumer Affairs Victoria:Rental providers: gas and electrical safety
- Consumer Affairs Victoria:Penalties (renting)
- Victorian Government: Value of a penalty unit (Monetary Units Act 2004)