What Happens If Your Rental Fails a Safety Inspection?
Renting out a property comes with serious responsibilities—especially when it comes to safety. If your rental property fails a safety inspection in Victoria, it can feel overwhelming at first. But don’t panic. Understanding the steps to fix the issue—and your legal responsibilities—can help you stay on the right side of the law and protect your tenants.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through what a failed safety inspection actually means, how to address violations, the expected timeline for re-inspections, and how to avoid common compliance mistakes.
1. What Does It Mean to Fail a Safety Inspection?
Failing a safety inspection means one or more aspects of your property do not meet mandatory compliance standards under the Residential Tenancies Regulations 2021. These inspections usually cover:
✅ Smoke alarm installation and functionality
✅ Electrical system safety (e.g., circuit breakers, power points)
✅ Gas appliance condition and servicing (for properties with gas)
Inspectors will issue a detailed compliance report that identifies breaches and outlines the next steps required to bring the property back up to standard.
2. What Are the Common Reasons Rentals Fail?
Some of the most frequent issues include:
Missing or non-functional smoke alarms
Outdated or damaged switchboards
Unserviced or unsafe gas appliances
DIY electrical work not done by a licensed tradesperson
Inadequate documentation proving previous inspections or servicing
Many of these issues are easy to miss without a regular maintenance schedule—especially if you rely on tenants to report them.
3. Your Step-by-Step Guide After a Failed Inspection
So, what happens if your rental fails a safety inspection and you need to act? Follow these steps
✅ Step 1: Review Your Compliance Report The first thing to do is carefully read the report from the inspection provider. Each failed item will be listed along with the reason it failed and what needs to be done.
🔧 Step 2: Hire Licensed Professionals Repairs must be carried out by qualified tradespeople, such as registered electricians or licensed gasfitters. This is not just best practice—it’s the law. Unlicensed repairs can actually worsen your compliance situation. TIP: Keep all repair invoices and certificates of compliance. These may be requested by tenants, insurers, or Consumer Affairs Victoria.
📆 Step 3: Fix Issues Quickly Most non-compliant issues should be resolved within 7 to 30 days, depending on how serious they are. For instance:
Smoke alarm failures = Urgent, often re-inspected within 7 days
Electrical faults = Typically within 14–30 days
Gas appliance safety issues = Within 7–14 days
🔁 Step 4: Book a Re-Inspection Once the necessary repairs are complete, you’ll need to book a re-inspection to verify compliance. Re-inspections are often quicker than the initial visit and focus only on previously failed items.
4. The Consequences of Ignoring a Failed Inspection
Failure to take corrective action can have serious consequences:
Breach notices from tenants
Fines or penalties from Consumer Affairs Victoria
Voided insurance claims if damage or injury occurs
Legal liability in the event of a safety incident
In short: ignoring compliance breaches not only risks fines but endangers your tenants—and your investment.
5. Preventing Future Failures
The best way to avoid compliance issues is to be proactive:
📅 Schedule annual safety checks (smoke) and (electrical, and gas) every two years
🔍 Use professional services who provide compliance certificates
🗂️ Keep all records in a central location (physical or digital)
🤝 Work with reliable providers that notify you when re-inspections are due
Partnering with professional safety inspectors keeps your rental legally compliant.
Summary: What to Do if Your Rental Fails a Safety Inspection
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| ✅ 1 | Review your compliance report carefully |
| 🔧 2 | Hire qualified, licensed professionals |
| 🛠️ 3 | Complete necessary repairs promptly |
| 🔁 4 | Book a re-inspection within the recommended timeframe |
Need Help with Re-Inspections or Repairs?
At Rental Safety Inspections, we specialise in smoke alarm, gas, and electrical checks across Victoria. Our team provides fast re-inspections and licensed repairs to get your property compliant—fast.
👉 Book your re-inspection now or contact us for a free consultation.
- Ready to comply with Victoria’s rental laws? Book your Bundle check for $399 + GST