Understanding Rental Minimum Standards in Victoria
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Understanding Rental Minimum Standards in Victoria

  • Writer: Ashley Miniken
    Ashley Miniken
  • 5 days ago
  • 2 min read

Keeping your rental properties compliant, safe and ready for tenancy


There are currently 14 categories of Rental Minimum Standards (RMS) that Residential Rental Providers (RRPs) in Victoria are legally required to meet. A new requirement — ensuring all loose, looped blind cords hanging below 1600mm from the floor are secured with blind cord anchors — comes into effect from 1 December 2025, less than a month away.


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These standards ensure that rental properties are safe, functional, and comfortable for tenants. For property managers, understanding when and how these standards apply is key to maintaining compliance and protecting both owners and renters.


Why Check Rental Minimum Standards?


Regular RMS checks confirm that your properties meet the essential requirements set out under Victorian legislation. These inspections help identify maintenance or safety issues early — before they become breaches of the Residential Tenancies Act or costly emergency repairs.


Ensuring compliance also helps create safer, more comfortable homes for renters and provides peace of mind for owners. It reduces disputes, improves renter retention, and demonstrates a proactive commitment to quality and safety.


Hefty penalties apply for non-compliance — properties that do not meet the minimum standards before being listed for rent may incur fines of up to $11,000 for individuals and over $59,000 for companies.


When Must Standards Be Met?


All rental properties in Victoria must comply with the minimum standards before they can be advertised for rent. Ongoing compliance should also be verified during tenancies, particularly when carrying out maintenance or scheduled safety checks.


Blind cord anchor to secure loose looped blind cords
Blind cord anchor to secure loose looped blind cords

Current Categories of Victorian Rental Minimum Standards


There are 14 current categories, with properties required to comply with the blind cord safety category by 1 December 2025:

  1. Door locks

  2. Ventilation

  3. Window coverings

  4. Windows

  5. Vermin-proof bins

  6. Lighting

  7. Heating

  8. Toilets

  9. Bathroom facilities

  10. Kitchen facilities

  11. Laundry facilities

  12. Mould and dampness

  13. Structural soundness

  14. Electrical safety

  15. Blind cord safety (from 1 Dec 2025)


What the Data Shows


At Taskforce, we’ve conducted thousands of Rental Minimum Standards inspections across Victoria — and the results highlight the importance of thorough, expert assessments.

  • Almost half (45%) of all inspections failed to comply with one or more standards.

  • The most common area of non-compliance was windows — where external windows capable of opening must have functioning latches to secure the property from external entry.

  • The next most common issues were mould and dampness, which require tools such as moisture meters to detect invisible dampness, and structural soundness, which depends on recognising early signs of potential building issues.


These findings demonstrate why experience and expertise matter when conducting RMS inspections.


Talk to Taskforce


If you’d like to discuss your Rental Minimum Standards or learn more about our trained technicians, specialist equipment, and detailed reporting, get in touch with Taskforce today — we’d be happy to help ensure your portfolio is fully compliant and ready for rent.



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