Compliance cover
Peace of mind your investment is protected
Breathe easy knowing your tenants are safe and your property remains compliant with the complex and evolving legislation
Smoke alarms
Smoke alarms
Smoke alarm maintenance is governed by both State and Federal legislation and any person who does not comply with the relevant legislation is guilty of an offence. Owners who fail to take every practical step to ensure the safety of their tenants can face a multitude of unpleasant and unwanted consequences that can be easily avoided with the right guidance.
To ensure you are compliant, you are legally required to meet minimum standards which include:
- Smoke alarms must be photoelectric and comply with the Australian Standard 3786:2014, not also contain an ionisation sensor and be less than 10 years old.
- All smoke alarms must be either hard wired to the electricity supply or have a non-replaceable 10-year lifespan battery.
- All smoke alarms must be interconnected – either by being wired together, connected using wireless technology or a mixture of these two methods.
- Smoke alarms must be installed in the correct locations. They need to be in every bedroom, in every hallway outside all bedrooms and on every level of the house. If no bedrooms are on a level the alarm must be installed on the most likely exit path for that level.
- Clean, check the expiry date, and complete a full function test on each smoke alarm within 30 days before the start of a tenancy. Cleaning should be done according to the manufacturer's instructions, which is usually vacuuming.
- Replace and install the necessary smoke alarms and batteries that are required
To read the full legislation, please review the National Construction Code and the Fire and Emergency Services (Domestic Smoke Alarms) Amendment Act 2016.
Safety switches
Safety switches
Safety switches turn off the power in a fraction of a heartbeat if a leakage of current is detected, protecting your tenants and anyone visiting their home from electric shock. This can happen if there is a faulty power point or electrical appliance, or if a live cable is accidentally damaged or broken (e.g. a tradesperson doing maintenance on the home). Properties with faulty safety switches attract a fine of up to $200,000 or 3 years imprisonment. It could also cause serious injury or death to a tenant or contractor. To read the full legislation, please review the Electrical Safety Act 2002.
Corded blinds
Corded blinds
Due to the potential strangulation hazard, landlords are required to ensure that all corded window coverings are properly fitted and maintained in accordance with complex safety standards. Blind and curtain cords are a strangulation hazard to children; two children die a year in Australia from non-compliant blinds and curtains. All residential properties that have any corded internal window coverings must have the cords fitted with the prescribed safety devices and warning labels. Even if you haven’t installed corded blinds or window fittings, your tenants could at any time so it’s critical that your property is checked by a qualified compliance technician for non-compliance.
To ensure you are compliant, you are legally required to meet minimum standards for installation, which include:
- The corded internal window covering must be installed in a way that ensures a loose cord cannot form a loop 220 mm or longer at or less than 1,600 mm above floor level.
- The corded internal window covering must be installed in accordance with the installation instructions on any retail packaging for the covering
- A cleat used to secure a cord must be installed at least 1,600 mm above floor level.
- A person installing a corded internal window covering must attach a label to it containing the name and contact details of the person or company responsible for the installation and must not remove any warning label or swing tag supplied with the corded internal window covering.
To read the full legislation, please review the Trade Practices (Consumer Product Safety Standard - Corded Internal Window Coverings) Regulations 2010
Water efficiency
Water efficiency
In QLD, landlords can ask a tenant to pay water usage charges if the property is separately metered (or water is delivered by vehicle), the charges are not more than the amount the landlord is billed for by the water supplier, and the property meets the ‘water efficiency’ standards.
A property is only considered water efficient if it meets these standards. Minimum standards for water efficiency are set out by the RTA:
- Internal cold water taps and single mixer taps* must have a maximum flow rate of 9 litres per minute.
- Shower heads must have a maximum flow rate of 9 litres per minute.
- Toilets must have a dual flush function. The full flush must not exceed 6.5 litres and the half flush must not exceed 3.5 litres with a maximum average flush volume of 4 litres based on 1 full flush and 4 half flushes.
*The standard for internal cold water taps and single mixer taps applies to taps installed over hand basins, kitchen sinks and laundry taps. Bath taps, outside taps and taps to dishwashers and washing machines do not need to meet water efficiency standards.
For more information about water efficient products and labelling schemes, visit the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) Scheme. To learn more about water efficiency in rental properties, please refer to Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA).
When it comes to compliance, you can't risk mistakes
22%
of rental properties are non-compliant on first visit in QLD
4x
more likely there will be a fatality if a fire starts in a home with no working smoke alarms
2
children die a year from non-compliant blinds and curtains
73k+
words of State and Federal legislation rental properties must adhere to
FAQs
- What is included in my compliance cover?
- What is water efficiency and is my property eligible?
- Is my property eligible to pass water usage charges onto renters?
- Who is Property Compliance Australia?
- How much does it cost?
- What information do you need from me to sign up?
- How do I opt-out of compliance cover?
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