If you own a rental in Victoria, you're responsible for two separate safety checks: gas and electrical. Different trades, different certificates, one set of obligations — and on 13 October 2026 the rules widen to cover every rental agreement in the state. Here's the whole picture in plain English.
The two checks, side by side
The electrical safety check covers the switchboard, every circuit, safety switches, powerpoints, lighting and visible wiring. It must be done by a licensed electrician at least every two years, and the record has to be kept and provided to the renter. That's the check we do.
The gas safety check covers gas appliances, flues and connections, and must be done by a licensed gasfitter — a separate licence an electrician doesn't hold. Also two-yearly, also documented. If your property has no gas connection, only the electrical check applies.
They're commonly confused because agents book them together, and plenty of "safety check" companies sell them as a bundle. The obligations are separate though: passing one doesn't cover the other, and each needs the right licensed trade.
What changes on 13 October 2026
Since March 2021, the two-yearly checks have applied to rental agreements entered into or renewed from that date. Long-running tenancies that pre-date it have been outside the net. From 13 October 2026, that distinction disappears: the checks apply to every Victorian rental agreement regardless of when it started.
In practice that means a wave of properties — especially long-held tenancies that have never had a documented check — all falling due at once. If your property has no electrical safety record, it's due the day the rule lands, and trades across the state will be booked out through spring. Booking before October isn't just tidy, it's how you avoid being non-compliant while sitting on a waitlist.
What the electrical check involves
Expect about an hour to ninety minutes for a standard home. We test the switchboard and every safety switch, check each circuit, inspect powerpoints and light fittings, test smoke alarms while we're there, and document the lot in a compliance report you can hand straight to your agent or renter. If we find defects — the usual suspects are missing safety switches, deteriorated fittings and non-compliant DIY additions from previous owners — you get a written list with a fixed repair quote, not an open-ended "needs work."
What it costs
Ours are fixed-price for standard homes and units across Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula, with portfolio rates for agencies managing multiple properties. Call 0495 105 784 for the current number. Gas checks are priced separately by the gasfitter.
For property managers
Whole rent rolls come into scope on the same day, which makes October a scheduling problem more than a compliance one. We do bulk scheduling across portfolios, email reports directly to the agency, and keep per-property pricing fixed so owner approvals take one email. We can also line our electrical visit up with a gasfitter we work alongside regularly, so each property gets both records in one sweep instead of two access arrangements.
The short version
Two checks, two trades, both two-yearly, both documented. From 13 October 2026, every Victorian rental needs them regardless of tenancy age. Book the electrical one with a licensed electrician — that's us across Frankston and the Peninsula — and the gas one with a licensed gasfitter, or ask us to coordinate both.