The Victorian Government has made Consumer Affairs Victoria’s dedicated rental enforcement team permanent following two years of inspections and enforcement activity, and is expanding the team as further rental reforms come into effect.

Last year, the Victorian Government reported that a series of inspections carried out in Clayton found around one in eight properties did not meet rental minimum standards, with common issues including mould, missing blinds or curtains, non-compliant heating and kitchens without stovetops.

With further rental-law reforms taking effect from 13 October 2026, Consumer Affairs Victoria says the expanded team will help rental providers and agents understand the new requirements and monitor compliance.

Established in 2024, the dedicated CAV team monitors and enforces Victoria's rental laws, including Rental Minimum Standards and requirements relating to advertising, bonds and other rental obligations.

Since then, it has assessed more than 2,600 rental cases, inspected more than 600 properties, issued more than 250 official warnings and issued 130 infringement notices worth more than $900,000.

Importantly, its activity is not limited to responding to renter complaints. Proactive inspections of properties being advertised for rent have been part of its approach since it was established. In July 2026, for example, 24 inspectors attended open-for-inspections across metropolitan and regional Victoria to assess whether properties met the Rental Minimum Standards.

What Does This Mean for Property Managers?

Making the rental enforcement function permanent does not introduce new obligations for property managers or rental providers. It does, however, increase the importance of having reliable processes and records in place to ensure existing requirements are being met.

That means being able to establish, for each property:

• what requirements apply

• whether they have been met

• what records exist to demonstrate that

This becomes particularly relevant as further changes take effect.

From 13 October 2026, rental providers must arrange gas and electrical safety checks every two years for all rental agreements. They will also be required to keep sufficient records to show that a property met the Rental Minimum Standards when it was advertised or offered for rent.

Victoria's new rental energy-efficiency standards then begin progressively from 1 March 2027, with further changes taking effect on 1 July 2027 and 1 July 2030. Which requirements apply to a property will depend on system failures, tenancy changes and those commencement dates.

What Should Property Managers Do Now?

Having clear property-level information makes it easier to identify what requires attention when it matters.

For property managers, that means focusing on two things: keeping prescribed safety checks and Rental Minimum Standards requirements up to date, and keeping clear records of the checks and assessments completed for each property.

Those records provide evidence of what has been done and make it easier to identify what requires attention next.

With further reforms approaching, having that information readily available can also make the next stage easier to manage.

Related: Victoria’s Rental Law Changes from October 2026: A Guide to the New Energy-Efficiency Standards →

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