Updated 17 October 2026. Rental minimum standards in Victoria cover 15 categories. This guide explains when to check a property, how to organise the evidence and how to separate current requirements from future upgrades. For the room-by-room inspection prompts, use our 15-category minimum standards checklist.
When must a rental property meet the standards?
CAV says providers and agents must ensure compliance when advertising or offering a rental property. Providers must also ensure compliance before move-in. Existing-tenancy coverage depends on agreement dates; check the official applicability rules and exceptions, including the March 2021 transition. Rooming houses have separate requirements.
A practical workflow before advertising
- Create a property file and identify the planned advertising and tenancy dates.
- Work through each category using the official requirements and a consistent inspection record.
- Separate confirmed observations from assumptions, inaccessible areas and specialist questions.
- Arrange necessary rectification and retain the follow-up evidence before treating an issue as resolved.
- Review the record again before occupation, including changes since the earlier inspection.
For example, “window checked” is hard for another person to interpret. A clearer note identifies the room, the operation tested, the observed fault and the follow-up reference. If you could not access a room, record that limitation rather than implying that the entire property was inspected.
What records should landlords and agents keep?
The recordkeeping change commenced on 13 October 2026. CAV can request compliance records. Its recordkeeping guidance distinguishes advertising records from the provider’s move-in records.
Build a file that explains the assessment, rather than a folder of unexplained photographs. A useful working structure is:
- Property and visit: address, inspector, inspection date and areas accessed.
- Findings: each observation, its location, the evidence reference and any uncertainty.
- Supporting material: relevant assessments, product details and repair documentation.
- Follow-up: the action assigned, responsible person, completion evidence and review date.
- Final report: the exported version and where the supporting documents are stored.
This is a suggested organisation method, not a legal statement that those documents always suffice. The file should reflect the actual property and what was assessed. A report cannot resolve an outstanding defect by itself.
What changes in 2027?
New energy standards start in phases from 1 March 2027, covering heating, cooling, hot water, shower heads, ceiling insulation and draughtproofing. The trigger matters: heating and hot-water replacement provisions respond to irreparable failure; other provisions can apply to new or periodic agreements. Draughtproofing begins from 1 July 2027. Exemptions and technical specifications need separate checking.
Use the CAV energy efficiency timetable for the exact requirement and trigger. Do not use one blanket replacement date for every appliance. Our 2026 records and 2027 planning guide connects the current inspection workflow with future preparation.
Checklist, inspection report or compliance certificate?
These serve different purposes. A checklist helps you work through topics. An inspection report records what was observed, by whom and when. Whether specialist certification is required depends on the work and applicable rules; an app-generated PDF does not replace it.
Using the Minimum Standards Check app
The app provides a structured way to record observations, add photos and generate a PDF report from your phone. The free plan includes 10 reports per month. Pro includes unlimited reports and custom branding; monthly and annual plans offer the same Pro features.
The app is being developed for future 2027 requirements. This guide does not claim that every 2027 requirement is already available in the app. Review the current app fields and official rules before use.
Open the inspection checklist or view the app on the App Store.
Official sources and scope
This guide is general information for Victorian rental providers, agents and inspectors. It is not legal advice or an independent property assessment. Sources checked 17 October 2026: CAV rental minimum standards and recordkeeping and CAV minimum energy efficiency standards.