Key Changes and Dates for New Amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act

From the 25^th November 2025, the Victorian State Government is releasing the next wave of amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act.

From 25 November 2025

1 December 2025

All blinds cords must be securely anchored to the walls.

• Loose cords cannot form a loop of 220mm or longer and must sit no less than 1600me above floor level
• Cord guides that sit below 1600mm above floor level must be firmly anchored to a wall or other structure specified in the installation instructions and must withstand a tension force of 70 Newtons applied in any direction for 10 seconds.
  • The cord must be sufficiently secured or tensioned to prevent the formation pf a loop of 220mm or more
• Cleats must be firmly installed to a wall or structure at least 1600mm above floor level.

1 March 2027

New Minimum Standard – Heating and Cooling

• An energy efficient fixed heating and cooler (3 star and above) in good working order must be installed in OR must have an outlet in the main living area UNLESS it is unreasonable to install one.
• Circumstances where it would be considered unreasonable to install a fixed energy efficient heater/cooler
  • There is already a pre-existing fixed form of heating and cooling in good working order
  • OC Rules forbid the installation of appliance
  • Exorbitant costs of installation
  • If installation requires augmentation of a transmission system or distribution system to provide more than a basic or standard connection service.
  • Compliance with any other Act or local law makes the cost of installation prohibitive.
  • Standard has been refused in accordance with Part 5 of the Heritage Act.

New Minimum Standard – Ceiling Insulation

This new minimum standard will apply mainly to our owners of houses, townhouses, and units.

• Ceiling insulation must have a minimum R-value of 5.0
• The R-value measures thermal resistance, so the higher the value, the greater the effectiveness resisting heat flow.
• Statements are required pre and post installation
• Insulation must be installed by a suitably qualified person as stipulated by the Minister for Energy and Resources

New Minimum Standard – Draughtproofing

• All external doors and windows must be fitted with sealings or weather-stripping products that restrict air flow around the entire perimeter of the door or window but does impede the normal operation of the door or window
• Unsealed wall vents are to be fitted with a product made of robust non-shrinking, sealing material that seals or closes the vent and
• Sealing products used to complete sealing must be fitted in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Exceptions to these requirements:
  • a flueless space heater or open-flued gas appliance is installed in the rented premises; or
  • a flueless gas cooking appliance without a rangehood is installed in the kitchen facility (applies to (3)only); or
  • the rented premises is in a Class 2 building (apartment) and the owner’s corporation rules prohibit the fitting of sealing or weather-stripping products to external doors; or
  • the rented premises is a registered place and a request for a permit to alter the relevant features of the premises to comply with this standard has been refused in accordance with Part 5 of the Heritage Act 2017; or
  • it is otherwise unreasonable to draughtproof the rented premises/a kitchen facility in the rented premises.

New Minimum Standard – Water Heaters

This standard will apply to all residential properties where there is no bulk hot water supply.  An energy

efficient water heater that supplies hot water to the kitchen, laundry and bathroom facilities is to

be installed unless it is unreasonable to install an energy efficient water heater.

Amended Minimum Standard – Bathroom

For Leases that commence before 1 March 2027

• a shower head with a 3 star rating in the rating system referred to in regulation 23(1)(a); or
• a shower head with a 1 or 2 star rating if a shower head with a 3 star rating—
  • cannot be installed; or
  • if installed, will not operate effectively due to the age, nature or structure of the plumbing of the premises.

For Leases that commence from 1 March 2027

• a shower head with a 4 star rating in the rating system referred to in regulation 23(1)(a); or
• if, because of the age, nature or structure of the plumbing in the rented premises, a replacement with a 4 star rating referred to in subparagraph
  • cannot be installed; or
  • if installed, will not operate effective, a shower head with a 3 star rating in the efficiency rating system referred to in regulation 23(1)(a)

additional notes

Lastly it is important to emphasize to all our clients that the Rental Taskforce are continuously combing through online advertising listings and attending open for inspections to ensure the properties are compliant with minimum standards and that the advertising accurately portrays the current condition of the property, contains images of the actual property and if furnished, contains images of the furniture or décor that is being offered with the tenancy.

Please note that failure to comply with these requirements will result in rental providers being exposed to fines of up to $11,500 per breach and for properties owned under a company name, up to $57,000 per breach.