The Victoria Government has announced significant new reforms to enhance the safety of rental properties across Victoria. The reforms mandate regular smoke alarm, gas, and electrical safety checks for all residential rental properties, which is expected to make renting safer and prevent future tragedies.
Minister for Consumer Affairs Gabrielle Williams joined the Scarff family in Ballarat to announce the new measures requiring rental providers to conduct smoke alarm checks every 12 months and gas and electrical safety checks every two years, irrespective of when a lease began. The changes come after the tragic death of 52-year-old Simon Scarff, who died in 2022 while attempting to escape a fire in his rented apartment. A subsequent Coroner’s report was unable to confirm whether a smoke alarm was installed in the property at the time of the incident.
Minister Gabrielle Williams expressed her gratitude to the Scarff family for their tireless efforts in advocating for change.
“I thank the Scarff family for their longstanding advocacy following the tragic loss of Simon – their efforts will make renting safer for all Victorians and save lives,” said Williams.
She added,
“These new requirements will ensure that all rental properties in Victoria have working smoke alarms that are checked regularly, no matter how long someone has been living there.”
The Scarff family has since been a vocal advocate for improved rental safety standards to prevent similar incidents from affecting other families. Their advocacy has directly influenced the new reforms, which will extend the 2021 smoke alarm safety requirements to all rental properties, regardless of when the lease commenced. This means all rental properties will now need smoke alarms that are tested and confirmed as functional every 12 months.
In addition to smoke alarm checks, the reforms also extend requirements for gas and electrical safety checks to all residential rental properties. These checks must be conducted by qualified tradespersons every two years. Under the new rules, if a smoke alarm is found to be faulty, the rental provider or their agent must immediately arrange for repairs to ensure tenant safety.
Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison also praised the Scarff family’s advocacy.
“Through their advocacy, the Scarff family have improved safety for renters across Ballarat and the state – these safety checks will save lives,”
Addison said.
The reforms build on the Labor Government’s 2021 rental safety measures, which introduced mandatory smoke alarm checks for rental agreements that commenced on or after March 29, 2021. However, the tragic events involving Simon Scarff highlighted the need to extend these safety requirements to all rental properties, regardless of the start date of the lease.
These new requirements aim to make rental properties safer and protect tenants from preventable hazards. The Allan Labor Government is committed to ensuring all renters have access to safe living conditions, and these latest reforms represent a significant step towards achieving that goal.
To learn more about rental minimum standards and safety checks, visit consumer.vic.gov.au/renting.
#RentalSafety #SmokeAlarmChecks #GasAndElectricalSafety #VictoriaRenting #AllanLaborGovernment
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