Rental legislation is ever-evolving in Victoria, as property managers and real estate agents know all too well.
For example, since November 2025, rental providers have been required to ensure a property meets minimum standards from the time the property is advertised. It is also an offence for a rental provider or their agent to advertise a property which fails to meet the minimum standards.
To add to this, an upcoming change for PMs and their clients to be aware of is:
From 13 October 2026, rental providers and their agents will be legally required to keep records proving their rental properties met minimum standards at the time they were advertised or offered for rent.
This change is worth every agency’s attention because it will affect overall rent roll value as well as day-to-day compliance.
Victorian rental law reforms in 2026 and 2027
Under the new Victorian rental reforms, rental providers must retain records sufficient to demonstrate compliance with minimum standards whenever a property is advertised or offered for rent. This includes documentation like gas and electrical safety certificates, service invoices, condition reports and receipts.
From October 2026, gas and electrical safety checks will be mandatory every two years for all rental properties, regardless of when the tenancy commenced. A gas check will also be required before any draughtproofing work is undertaken.
To add to this, rental properties will need to meet revised minimum energy efficiency standards being phased in for heating, cooling, hot water, showerheads, ceiling insulation and draughtproofing from March 2027.
Why file quality becomes a valuation issue
For rent roll owners, the update to record-keeping requirements means another regular task for the team to manage, but it has the potential to be a value-adding advantage.
For example, when a rent roll is assessed for sale or acquisition, the quality and completeness of its files signal how well the business has been run. A rent roll with thorough, consistent compliance records tells a different story from one with gaps, missing reports, or no evidence of past and present compliance at all.
From October 2026, incomplete files will be a liability for any incoming owner. A buyer acquiring a rent roll inherits the obligations associated with every property on it. If proof of compliance can’t be produced, they face the risk of fines, not to mention the cost of pulling all the right documents together, potentially for hundreds of PUMs. This is a large task, and the need to complete it will de-value the rent roll.
Being organised and well-prepared with easy-to-access, up-to-date compliance documentation will ensure a smoother exchange with fewer questions and setbacks during the due diligence phase. It will make your rent roll more attractive over other, less organised rolls on the market.
Best practice for file quality is to keep electronic versions of receipts and compliance documentation in a central location where they are easily accessible and well catalogued so they can be retrieved at any time. Your team may also wish to keep hard copies on site.
Give your agency a head start on standards evidence reform
Compliance records need to exist before they can be shared with regulators or potential rent roll buyers.
Properties advertised before October 2026 need to meet the existing minimum standards, but establishing a system for documenting and keeping a record of checks, inspections, and safety upgrades ahead of the deadline, especially if you are considering selling all or part of your rent roll, will make life easier for everyone.
Don’t wait until October to think about minimum standards evidence. Your team should either all be on board with collecting and storing compliance documents, or have a nominated compliance manager who takes charge of this area of your business and keeps others accountable.
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From 13 October 2026, rental providers and their agents will be legally required to keep records proving their rental properties met minimum standards at the time they were advertised or offered for rent. This includes documentation such as gas and electrical safety certificates, service invoices, condition reports and receipts.
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When a rent roll is assessed for sale or acquisition, the quality and completeness of its files signal how well the business has been run. A rent roll with thorough, consistent compliance records is more attractive to buyers, while incomplete files become a liability — an incoming owner inherits the obligations associated with every property on the rent roll, and missing proof of compliance exposes them to fines and the cost of reconstructing records, which de-values the rent roll.
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Best practice is to keep electronic versions of receipts and compliance documentation in a central location where they are easily accessible and well catalogued, so they can be retrieved at any time. Teams may also wish to keep hard copies on site. Either everyone in the team should be on board with collecting and storing compliance documents, or a nominated compliance manager should take charge of this area and keep others accountable.Description text goes here