Rental minimum standards inspections in Victoria, recorded on your phone.
How does PropertySurvey Pro help with the records? From 13 October 2026, rental providers (landlords) and their agents in Victoria must keep records showing a property met the rental minimum standards when it was advertised or offered, and before the renter moved in, and give them to Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) if asked. PropertySurvey Pro lets you inspect each of the 15 standards room by room, with photos and notes, and builds a PDF report on your phone, even with no signal. Run one inspection before the listing goes live and a follow-up visit before move-in day. The app records the evidence; the rental provider remains responsible for the property, and CAV decides whether records are sufficient.
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What rental providers and agents must record from 13 October 2026
The Consumer Legislation Amendment Act 2025 adds sections 65C to 65F to the Residential Tenancies Act 1997, and any of its provisions not already in operation start on 13 October 2026. The law asks about two moments, and the records have to answer both. It does not list document types: the Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria may publish guidance on what is sufficient in the Government Gazette and on the CAV website, so check for it.
| Moment | What the Act requires | Record to make in the app |
|---|---|---|
| When you advertise or offer the property | The rental provider or agent must reasonably believe, at that time, that the property meets the rental minimum standards (s 65B, since 25 November 2025). From 13 October 2026 the rental provider or agent must also keep records sufficient to show that (s 65E). | A pre-listing inspection of all 15 standards, finished before the advertisement goes live. |
| On or before move-in day | The rental provider must make sure the property meets the standards on or before the day the renter moves in (s 65A), and from 13 October 2026 keep records sufficient to show that (s 65C). | A follow-up visit on or before move-in day, naming the earlier inspection. |
| When the Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria asks | Produce the records as soon as practicable, in the manner the Director specifies (ss 65D and 65F). Maximum penalty: 150 penalty units, or 750 for a company. | The PDF reports, shared from your phone, filed with the advertisement and your other papers. |
The full duties, the penalties in dollars, the 15 standards in detail and the gas and electrical safety checks are in our guide to Victoria’s rental minimum standards records.
How a rental minimum standards inspection works in the app
1.Set up the inspection
Start a General Inspection and enter the property address, the rental provider (the app calls it Landlord) and, at move-in, the renter (Tenant). Under Report Type / Title, add your own title such as MINIMUM STANDARDS INSPECTION. The app keeps custom titles, so the next property takes one tap.
2.Walk the 15 standards, room by room
Add rooms and outside areas from the suggestions or with your own names, such as Switchboard. In each one, take photos, type or dictate what you tested in Observations, and put anything that fails under Maintenance Required. Add a caption to any photo to say which standard it shows.
3.Fix, then record the finished work
Anything that fails is repaired before the property is advertised. Photograph the finished work, and the invoice or certificate if you want it in the report, before you make the final PDF. Keep the original paperwork too.
4.Make the PDF before the listing goes live
Open the report and tap Share. The app builds the PDF on your phone, with no signal needed, showing the survey date, report date and reference. Save it with a copy of the advertisement and its date.
5.Recheck on or before move-in day
Tap Start follow-up visit on the finished inspection. Rooms, areas and wording carry across; photos, ratings and notes start empty. The reference gains -V2 and the PDF names the earlier visit. With Pro, the report also shows what changed, with before and after photos.
Your rental minimum standards checklist, as rooms and areas
You build the checklist from the app’s rooms and outside areas, using its suggested names or your own, and keep CAV’s checklist beside you. The left-hand column is CAV’s 15 categories; the other two are our suggestion for where to record each one and what to photograph, not an official list.
| Standard | Record it in | Capture |
|---|---|---|
| Bathroom | Bathroom, En-suite | Basin, shower or bath and shower head; note that hot and cold water ran |
| Electrical safety | Meter Cupboard, or your own area named Switchboard | The switchboard and its safety switches |
| Heating | Living Room | The fixed heater and its rating label |
| Kitchen | Kitchen | Food preparation area, sink, cooktop burners and any oven, each tested |
| Laundry | Utility Room, or your own area named Laundry | Taps; note that hot and cold water ran |
| Lighting | Every room | Note that each light worked |
| Locks | Windows and Doors, or your own area named Entry doors | The lock on each external entry door |
| Mould and damp | Every room | Walls and ceilings, with close-ups of any marks |
| Structural soundness | Front, Rear and Side Elevations; Roof / Chimney Stacks | Each elevation and the roof where visible |
| Toilets | Bathroom, or your own room named Toilet | The toilet; note that it flushed and did not leak |
| Ventilation | Every habitable room, bathroom, toilet and laundry | Openable windows and exhaust fans; note that fans ran |
| Vermin-proof bins | Bin Store / Refuse Area | The rubbish bin and the recycling bin |
| Windows | Every room | Latches; note that each window opened and latched |
| Window coverings | Bedrooms and living areas | Each curtain or blind, closed |
| Window covering anchors | Every room with corded blinds or curtains | The anchor or cleat securing each cord |
Where a standard allows an exception, such as an energy efficient heater that would be unreasonable to install in some apartments, or a heritage exemption, photograph the evidence into the inspection and keep the original with your records. Pro users can also set the Scope, Methodology or Important Notes wording that every new General Inspection starts with, so each report explains what was checked in the same words.
Added 20 October 2026
Minimum energy efficiency standards from 1 March 2027
New minimum energy efficiency standards for rental properties come into effect in phases from 1 March 2027. They cover heating, cooling, hot water, shower heads, ceiling insulation and, from 1 July 2027, draughtproofing. Each has its own trigger: heating and hot water apply only when the existing system fails and cannot be repaired, while the others apply at the start of a new rental agreement or when an agreement moves to month-to-month. Cooling becomes a requirement for every rental from 1 July 2030. This is how Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) describes them; the rules themselves are in the Residential Tenancies Amendment (Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards) Regulations 2025.
| Standard | From | When it applies | What is needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heating | 1 March 2027 | When the existing fixed heater fails and cannot be repaired. A working heater that meets the existing minimum standard can stay. | An energy efficient fixed electric heater with an outlet in the main living area: a non-ducted air conditioner or heat pump rated 2 stars or more for heating, or ducted electric heating with a Heating Seasonal Performance Factor of 3.2 or more. |
| Cooling | 1 March 2027; every rental from 1 July 2030 | At the start of a new rental agreement or a move to a month-to-month agreement, or when an existing fixed cooler fails and cannot be repaired. From 1 July 2030, all rental properties, whatever the agreement. | An energy efficient fixed cooler in the main living area: non-ducted and rated 3 stars or more for cooling, or ducted with a Total Cooling Seasonal Performance Factor of 3.8 or more. |
| Hot water | 1 March 2027 | When the existing system permanently fails and cannot be repaired. | A heat pump water heater or an electric-boosted solar water heater. |
| Shower heads | 1 March 2027 | At the start of a new rental agreement or a move to a month-to-month agreement. | A 4-star WELS shower head in every shower, or 3-star where the plumbing cannot take a 4-star head or it will not work properly. |
| Ceiling insulation | 1 March 2027 | At the start of a new rental agreement or a move to a month-to-month agreement. | Insulation of at least R5.0, fitted by a qualified installer, in every ceiling space or part of one with no insulation. Not needed where there is existing ceiling insulation of any rating. |
| Draughtproofing | 1 July 2027 | At the start of a new rental agreement or a move to a month-to-month agreement. | Sealing or weather-stripping around all external doors and windows, and unsealed wall vents sealed or closed. |
Safety checks before the work
CAV sets out two checks that come before the work itself:
- Before ceiling insulation: an electrical safety checklist must be completed, and any electrical issues fixed by a licensed electrician, within 30 days before the insulation is installed. CAV says that where the insulation is installed through the Victorian Energy Upgrades program, the checklist is done as part of the installation service.
- Before draughtproofing: if the property has gas appliances, a licensed plumber must carry out a gas safety check before any draughtproofing work begins, and the check must be less than six months old when the work is completed. If it finds un-flued or open-flued gas appliances, draughtproofing must not go ahead.
Exemptions
CAV’s exemptions page (updated 19 October 2026) lists exemptions standard by standard. Even where one applies, the rental provider may still need to provide the appliance, just not to the energy efficiency standard: a fixed heater or cooler in good working order in the main living area, and hot and cold water to the kitchen, laundry and bathroom. The main grounds:
- Existing insulation: ceiling insulation is not required where there is existing insulation of any R-value, over garages, outbuildings and alfresco areas, over internal ceilings, or where installing it is unreasonable or unsafe, for example a roof cavity that is common property in an apartment building, or a skillion or very low-pitched roof that cannot be reached without removing the ceiling lining or roofing.
- Gas appliances and draughtproofing: no draughtproofing where there is a flueless space heater or an open-flued gas appliance, and none in a kitchen with a flueless gas cooktop and no rangehood.
- Cost: for heating, cooling, hot water and ceiling insulation, where installing costs significantly more than the average for an equivalent house or apartment building. Electrical work needed for the installation does not count towards the cost. A switchboard upgrade does not count for heating or cooling, but does count for a water heater.
- What is already there: a fixed heater of a listed type in good working order in the main living area (such as a non-ducted air conditioner or gas space heater rated 2 stars or more for heating, ducted or hydronic heating, a wood heater or an LPG heater); a fixed cooler in good working order installed before 1 March 2027, including ducted evaporative cooling; a water heater in good working order that supplies the kitchen, laundry and bathroom; a replacement of the same system under a manufacturer, supplier or installer warranty; a centralised hot water system; or a temporary water heater for no more than 60 days.
- Rules outside the rental provider’s control: owners corporation rules that prohibit the installation, Heritage Victoria refusing a permit for a place on the Victorian Heritage Register, another Act or local law that makes the cost prohibitive, or a network upgrade needed beyond a basic or standard connection.
CAV says rental providers need to keep records showing an exemption applies if the property cannot meet a standard, and should keep proof of installation and appliance information for any work done. It says it will publish more about compliance in the coming months.
What to record at an inspection now
Whether a standard applies later depends on what is in the property when the trigger comes: a new agreement, a move to month-to-month, or a failed appliance. A dated record of what is there today, with labels and paperwork, gives the rental provider something to work from. Add these to the minimum standards inspection, in the rooms named or in your own areas:
| Item (where to record it) | What to record |
|---|---|
| Heating (Living Room) | The fixed heater in or with an outlet in the main living area: its type and fuel (electric, gas, LPG, wood, ducted or hydronic), a photo of the rating label or model plate, and a note that it worked. |
| Cooling (Living Room) | Any fixed cooler in or with an outlet in the main living area, including ducted evaporative cooling, with its label or model plate and a note that it worked. If you know it was installed before 1 March 2027, say so and keep the invoice. |
| Hot water (your own area, such as Hot Water System) | The system’s type and fuel, its label or model plate, whether it is a centralised building system, and that hot water reached the kitchen, laundry and bathroom. |
| Shower heads (Bathroom, En-suite) | Each shower head, with its WELS star rating if it is marked, or the product box or receipt. |
| Ceiling insulation (your own area, such as Ceiling Space) | Only if the space can be viewed safely from the access hatch: whether insulation is there, its form (batts, blankets, rigid boards or loose fill) and any parts with none. If it cannot be reached or seen, say why and photograph the hatch or roof form. |
| Draughtproofing (Windows and Doors) | Seals on each external door and window, and any unsealed wall vents. List every gas appliance and whether it is flued, open-flued or flueless, and whether a gas cooktop has a rangehood. |
| Paperwork | Photograph the electrical safety checklist before insulation, the gas safety check before draughtproofing, installer invoices and product labels. CAV says to keep proof of installation and appliance information. |
| Exemption evidence | Owners corporation rules, a Heritage Victoria permit refusal, installer quotes for a cost exemption, or notes and photos of why an area is unsafe or inaccessible. Keep the originals; CAV says rental providers need records showing an exemption applies. |
When an upgrade is done, start a follow-up visit from the earlier inspection and photograph the new appliance, its label and the paperwork, so the report names the earlier visit. With Pro, the report adds Changes since last visit with before and after photos, and prints the capture time on each photo. The app records what you saw; it does not decide whether a standard or an exemption applies.
What goes in each report, free and Pro
| For the records | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| General Inspection with suggested and custom rooms and outside areas | Included | Included |
| Photos with captions, condition ratings, notes and voice dictation | Included | Included |
| PDF built on the phone, offline, with survey date, report date and reference | Included, with a small app footer | Included, with your logo and no app footer |
| Follow-up visit naming the previous visit’s date and reference | Included | Included |
| Changes since last visit, with before and after photos | Not included | Included |
| Capture time printed on each photo in the report | Not included | Included |
| Your signature on the report | Upload a picture of it | Draw it on screen, or upload |
| Storage | Up to 25 surveys on the device | Up to 5,000, backed up to the cloud and synced between devices |
With Pro, the time printed on each photo comes from the photo’s own capture date (EXIF), or the time it was added to the survey when that is missing. The survey and report dates are the dates you enter. See pricing and voice dictation.
Giving the records to Consumer Affairs Victoria
If the Director asks, the Act says to produce the records as soon as practicable and in the manner the Director specifies. Follow what CAV asks for. From the app, that usually means sending PDFs you already have:
- Share from the phone: the Share button builds the PDF and opens your phone’s share options, such as email or a files app.
- Keep a copy outside the app: file each property’s PDFs by letting, next to the dated advertisement. The free plan stores up to 25 surveys on the device; Pro backs them up to the cloud and syncs them between your devices.
- Keep the papers the app does not replace: the condition report in the prescribed form, the latest gas and electrical safety check records, repair invoices and any exemption evidence.
For rental providers, property managers and inspectors
Rental providers
Managing your own rental? Inspect it before you list it and again before the keys change hands, and keep both reports with the advertisement.
Property managers and agents
The advertising records duty applies to agents too (s 65E). Give every manager the same set of rooms, areas and report title for each listing.
Independent inspectors
Offering minimum standards checks? Your company details go on every report. With Pro, add your logo and remove the app footer.
What the app does not do
- It does not decide whether a property meets a standard, or whether your records are sufficient. The rental provider remains responsible, and CAV decides.
- It does not produce the Victorian condition report. Under section 35(1B) of the Act, the condition report must be in the prescribed form; use the app’s photos and report alongside it.
- It does not replace the electrical safety check, or the gas safety check where the property has gas, which a licensed or registered electrician or gasfitter carries out every 2 years.
Inspect your next rental before it is advertised
Genuinely free to start: offline inspections, follow-up visits and PDF reports with a small app footer. Upgrade to Pro when you're ready for photo timestamps, your own branding and cloud backup.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do a rental minimum standards inspection in Victoria with PropertySurvey Pro?
Yes. Start a General Inspection, add the rooms and outside areas where each of the 15 standards applies, and record photos, condition ratings and notes for each one. The app builds a PDF report on your phone, with the survey date, report date and reference, and works without a signal.
Does the app include the CAV rental minimum standards checklist?
No. You set up the checklist yourself as rooms and outside areas, using the app’s suggested names or your own, and keep Consumer Affairs Victoria’s checklist beside you. The table on this page suggests where each of the 15 standards can go.
Does PropertySurvey Pro make a rental property compliant?
No. The app records evidence: photos, notes and a PDF report. The rental provider remains responsible for the property meeting the minimum standards, licensed tradespeople carry out the gas and electrical safety checks, and Consumer Affairs Victoria decides whether records are sufficient.
Is the PDF the condition report I give the renter?
No. Under section 35 of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997, the condition report must be in the prescribed form and given to the renter before they move in. Use the app’s inspection report and photos alongside it, as your own record of the minimum standards.
How do I show the property still met the standards on move-in day?
Open the finished pre-listing inspection and tap Start follow-up visit. The app copies the property, rooms, outside areas and report wording, and starts the photos, ratings and notes empty, so you record the property as it is that day. The PDF names the previous visit’s date and reference. With Pro, the report adds a Changes since last visit section with before and after photos.
Will the same photos help with bond claims?
They can. From 13 October 2026 a rental provider or agent must give each renter bond claim evidence at least 3 days before claiming the bond, and a photograph is one of the listed types. The evidence must not conflict with a statement in the condition report.
When do Victoria’s minimum energy efficiency standards for rentals start?
In phases from 1 March 2027, as Consumer Affairs Victoria describes them. Heating and hot water apply when the existing system fails and cannot be repaired. Shower heads, ceiling insulation and cooling apply from 1 March 2027 at the start of a new rental agreement or a move to a month-to-month agreement, and cooling also when an existing fixed cooler fails beyond repair. Draughtproofing follows on the same triggers from 1 July 2027, and from 1 July 2030 every rental must have cooling. Exemptions apply, and rental providers need to keep records showing that an exemption applies.
Does existing ceiling insulation have to be upgraded to R5.0?
No. CAV says ceiling insulation is not required where there is existing insulation of any R-value; the R5.0 standard applies to ceiling spaces, or parts of them, with no insulation. Before new insulation goes in, an electrical safety checklist must be completed and any electrical issues fixed by a licensed electrician within the 30 days before installation.
What is free, and what needs Pro?
Free covers the whole inspection: rooms and areas, photos with captions, ratings, notes, voice dictation, follow-up visits and PDF reports with a small app footer, with up to 25 surveys stored on the device. Pro adds the capture time printed on each photo, the Changes since last visit section, drawing your signature on screen, your own logo and styling, and cloud backup and sync.