Renters rights and responsibilities

Smoke alarms installation and maintenance

Rental providers must ensure rental properties are appropriately fitted with smoke alarms.

By law, at least one smoke alarm must be installed on each level of a property, between each sleeping area and the rest of the house. It's likely your rented property requires more than one smoke alarm.

Smoke alarm safety in rental agreements

For all rental agreements, renter and rental provider responsibilities for smoke alarm safety must be included as terms in residential rental agreements.

Rental providers must ensure that smoke alarms:

• are correctly installed and in working order
• are tested according to the manufacturer’s instructions at least once every 12 months
• have batteries replaced when required
• are repaired or replaced as an urgent repair.

On or before the start of a rental agreement, a rental provider must give a renter written information about:

• how each smoke alarm operates in the rented premises
• how to test each smoke alarm in the rented premises
• the renter's obligations to not tamper with any smoke alarms and to report if a smoke alarm in the rented premises is not in working order.

Smoke alarms and your responsibilities as a renter

1. Test smoke alarms regularly

CFA recommends renters test smoke alarms regularly to ensure they are working. Press the test button and wait for the alarm to sound.

2. Notify your rental provider if a smoke alarm isn't working

Renters must notify the rental provider or rooming house operator if a smoke alarm is faulty or not working.

If a smoke alarm isn't working, it is considered an urgent repair. The rental provider must immediately arrange for the smoke alarm to be repaired or replaced.

If a rental provider or rooming house operator cannot be contacted or if they do not immediately fix the smoke alarm, renters can authorise and pay for an urgent repair of up to $2,500. Rental providers must pay you back within 7 days.

3. Do not disconnect or remove smoke alarms

You must not disconnect or remove a smoke alarm or interfere with its operation in any way.

If you or a visitor does this, it is a breach of duty and a rental provider or rooming house operator may give you a Notice of Breach of Duty.

Gas and electrical safety

Rental provider responsibilities

Rental providers need to make sure gas and electrical appliances are working safely, checked regularly and maintained.

Urgent repairs

Rental providers or rooming house operators must respond immediately if there is a:

• gas leak
• dangerous electrical fault
• failure or breakdown of a supplied appliance for hot water, water, cooking, heating or laundry
• failure or breakdown of the gas, electricity or water supply.

Notify your rental provider about urgent repairs

Renters must notify the rental provider if they become aware of the need for an urgent repair.

If your rental provider cannot be contacted or does not respond immediately, renters can arrange and pay for an urgent repair of up to $2,500. The rental provider must pay the renter back within 7 days.

It is important that these matters are dealt with promptly because they can result in death, serious injury or considerable property damage.

More information

For more information on renter rights and responsibilities, visit Consumer Affairs Victoria or refer to the Residential Tenancies Act 1997.

Page last updated: Thursday, 17 September 2026 3:49:22 PM