Heating and the rental minimum standards in a Ballarat winter
Victoria's rental standards require a fixed heater in the main living area. What a pre-listing check looks at in a cold Ballarat rental, plus draughts and doors.
Before a Victorian rental can be advertised it has to meet all 15 rental minimum standards. We walk your Ballarat property against each one and give you a written list of what passes, what does not and what a tradesperson needs to do.
One of our inspectors will call you back. If it is urgent, call 1300 471 805.
We assess the property against Schedule 4 of the Residential Tenancies Regulations 2021 (Vic), using the 15 headings published by Consumer Affairs Victoria. Every standard is viewed, worked by hand where it can be, photographed and marked as met or not met.
36 checkpoints across 15 areas on a standard Ballarat rental minimum standards (Victoria) inspection. Roof spaces, subfloors or rooms that are locked, too low or unsafe on the day are named in the report as not inspected, never assumed to be fine.
Each of these would need repair before a home could be offered for rent, from a door that will not latch to a stained ceiling.
Victoria's rental standards require a fixed heater in the main living area. What a pre-listing check looks at in a cold Ballarat rental, plus draughts and doors.
The mould and damp standard and the ventilation standard, and why cold, wet weather makes them the ones Ballarat rentals most often struggle with.
What the locks standard requires, and the door and hardware faults we find on older Ballarat area houses before they are let.
Pre-Purchase Building Inspections An older Ballarat home checked from roof space to stumps under AS 4349.1 before you commit. 
Building and Pest Inspections Building and timber pest reports in one Ballarat visit, with decay and damp written up. 
Defect Investigation Reports Cracks, roof leaks, condensation and mould in Ballarat homes, measured and traced to a cause. 
Pre-Handover (PCI) Inspections A numbered list of what is unfinished or defective in your new Ballarat home, before the final claim is paid. 
New Construction Stage Inspections Seven visits through a Ballarat build, each one booked before the next trade covers the work. Dilapidation Reports A dated photo record of your Ballarat house before demolition or excavation starts next door. 
VCAT Expert Witness Reports Evidence written to VCAT's expert witness requirements when a building dispute will not settle. 
Pre-Sale Inspections Learn what a buyer's inspector will raise before your Ballarat home is listed. 
Mould Inspections Visible mould and damp traced with a moisture meter in homes that rarely dry out in winter. 
Insurance Claim Assessments An independent look at storm, leak or impact damage to support your claim. 
Maintenance Inspections A yearly check of roof, gutters, subfloor and drainage before small faults grow. 
Apartment Pre-Settlement Your new unit or townhouse checked before settlement day. 
Reinspections A return visit to confirm the builder has closed out each listed item. 
Timber Pest Inspections A stand-alone AS 4349.3 timber pest inspection when the building side is already covered. Tax Depreciation Schedule Depreciation figures for a Ballarat investment property, prepared for your accountant. 
Commercial Property Inspections Condition reports on shops, offices and warehouses in and around the city. 
Strata Reports Common property reviewed for owners corporations and buyers of units. Instant online pricing, or talk to the booking team on 1300 471 805.
The 15 rental minimum standards in Schedule 4 of the Residential Tenancies Regulations 2021: locks, windows, window coverings, covering anchors, structural soundness, mould and damp, ventilation, bathrooms, toilets, kitchen, laundry, heating, lighting, electrical safety and vermin proof bins.
From 25 November 2025 the home must meet the standards at the time it is advertised or offered for rent, not just when a tenant moves in. Anchors for corded window coverings have been required since 1 December 2025.
Winters here are cold, with regular frosts, and a fixed heater in the main living area is one of the standards. We confirm it is there and record its type; we do not run or service it.
It depends on the size of the property and how many rooms and wet areas it has. Request a quote online and the price comes back before anything is booked.
We usually book the visit within a few days, and the report reaches you within 24 hours of the inspection.
We do not test or certify electrical or gas work; the switchboard is photographed and a licensed electrician certifies electrical safety. Heaters, cooktops and other appliances are not commissioned, mould is not lab tested, and we do not carry out repairs, give legal advice or issue a compliance certificate.
Yes. A follow-up visit confirms each failed item has been put right, so you have a record before the listing goes live.