Gas & Electrical Safety Checks:
This week we will cover off Gas and Electrical safety checks:
What do you need to do to?
Who can provide the certificates?
How often does it need to be done?
So essentially any new lease entered into after March 2021 must have their gas and electrical safety checks done every 2 years and smoke alarms done every year.
The other change of the legislation is both you as the owner and us as the agency can potentially be fined the same penalty points if you as the owner refuse to get the checks done.
Failing to comply with minimum standards and getting the safety checks done could be a fine of 60 penalty units, 1 penalty unit is $184.92, so 60 penalty units is $11,095.20.
Therefore its in ours and you as the owners interest to ensure that your property complies.
If a gas or electrical safety check has not been conducted within the last 2 years at the time therenter occupies the premises, the rental provider must arrange a gas or electrical safety check as soon as possible.
If the your property is newly built house or apartment it maynot be necessary to conduct a separate gas and electrical safety check.
Lets jump straight into what needs to be done with Gas
The gas checks cover gas appliances such as heaters, stoves, hot water, anything that is serviced by gas, this was to put a stop to any carbon monoxide poisoning.
Any old gas heater which are typically the wall panel heathers will be disconnected onsite and quoted to be replaced.
You also can’t get any plumber to do these checks you need a licensed gas fitter:
A registered or licensed gasfitter is a plumber who holds registration or a licence to carryout gas fitting work with the Victorian Building Authority (VBA).
Only gas fitters who are currently registered or licensed in the specialised Type A appliance servicing work are authorised to carry out this work.
The reason is that they have to then provide an official record of the check which includes a compliance certificate and a copy of the record of gas servicing work submitted to the VBA and given to the rental provider under the Gas Safety (Gas Installation) Regulations 2018.
Also the tenant has the right to request these documents tosee if it the works been done.
Electrical Safety checks:
These must also be done once every 2 years by an “RegisteredElectrical Contractor” in other words an licensed electrician and checks all electrical installations and fittings in the premises, from downlights, switchboards,check the wiring, ovens, rangehoods, hot water services etc, They can also do smoke alarms which have to be done annually and other electrical fixtures.
Record keeping for the electrical checks are quite similar to gas where by:
- the full name and business details, including the licence or registration number of the electrician or Registered Electrical Contractor who did the check.
- the date of the safety check
- the results of the check, including any repairs that were required and actions taken to address the repair
- confirmation that all installations and fittings have been checked and found safe.
Finally asmentioned smoke alarms need to be checked annually and we must ensure:
- are correctly installed and in working order
- are tested according to the manufacturer’s instructions at least once every 12 months
- have their batteries replaced as required
- are repaired or replaced as an urgent repair.
Also the legislation states that we must provide the tenant with the instructions for each smok ealarm.
As mentioned above because we are equally as liable as our owners we only use reputable companies that cancover the full service of the above to ensure that your are protected and your property complies at all times, this can also affect your landlords insurance on making any future claims if these jobs haven’t been done properly.
Thank you again for yourtime today, I really hope you have enjoyed this weeks episode.
