Under the new laws rental providers (previously referred to as landlords) have certain responsibilities for gas and electrical safety.

Rental providers must undertake gas and electricity safety checks:

• For all new agreements after 29 March 2021, or
• Where there is a fixed term agreement of more than five years which rolls over into a periodic tenancy after 29 March 2021, must undertake gas and electricity safety checks.

Additionally, rental providers must keep, and be able to produce, records of gas and electrical safety checks conducted at the property.

Electrical safety check

Rental providers must ensure an electrical safety check of all electrical installations and fittings in the premises is conducted every two years by a licensed electrician.

If requested, they must also provide the renter with the date of the most recent safety check, in writing.

The safety check must be conducted accordance with section 4 of AS/NZS 3019 “Electrical installations—Periodic verification”.

If an electrical safety check has not been conducted within the last two years at the time the renter occupies the premises, the rental provider must arrange an electrical safety check as soon as practicable.

If the safety check shows electrical repairs are needed to make the property safe, the rental provider should engage an REC or a licensed electrician employed by an REC to do the repair work.