Electrical Safety Inspection Melbourne: What’s Involved and What It Costs

When You Need an Electrical Safety Inspection

Mandatory: Rental Properties

Under the Residential Tenancies Regulations 2021, all Victorian rental properties must undergo an electrical safety check every two years. This requirement has been in force since 29 March 2023. The inspection must be performed by a licensed electrician, and the results documented in a written report. Landlords must keep these records and make them available to tenants on request.

The two-year cycle means that if your last inspection was in August 2024, your next one is due by August 2026. If you have never had one done, you are already overdue and should book an inspection as soon as possible.

Recommended: Homeowners

There is no mandatory inspection schedule for owner-occupied homes in Victoria, but an electrical safety inspection is strongly recommended in several situations: when buying or selling a property (a pre-purchase electrical inspection can reveal hidden issues that affect property value and safety), if your home is more than 25 years old and has never had an electrical assessment, after purchasing a home that was tenanted (the previous landlord’s inspection history may not transfer to you as the new owner), if you are planning renovations (understanding the current state of your wiring helps scope the electrical work required), if you experience frequent safety switch trips, flickering lights, or other electrical anomalies, and after a major weather event such as flooding or storm damage that may have affected wiring.

What Gets Inspected

A thorough electrical safety inspection covers every accessible component of your home’s electrical installation. Here is what a licensed electrician will check:

Switchboard

The switchboard is the heart of your electrical system. The electrician will inspect the physical condition of the board (checking for rust, heat damage, loose connections, and signs of overheating), verify that all circuits are protected by appropriate circuit breakers, test all RCDs (safety switches) using both the push-button test and an instrument test to confirm they trip within 30 milliseconds at 30mA, check that circuits are clearly labelled, verify the main switch is operational, and confirm the switchboard meets current minimum safety standards.

Wiring

The electrician will inspect all accessible wiring for signs of deterioration, damage, or non-compliant installations. This includes checking insulation condition (older rubber and cloth-insulated wiring degrades over time), looking for exposed or damaged cables, verifying cable sizes are appropriate for the circuits they supply, checking junction boxes are accessible and properly covered, and identifying any unlicensed or non-compliant wiring modifications.

In older Melbourne homes, particularly those in suburbs like Fitzroy, Carlton, Northcote, and Brunswick that were built in the early 1900s, deteriorated wiring is extremely common. The rubber and fabric insulation used in that era becomes brittle and crumbles away over decades, exposing live conductors. This is one of the leading causes of electrical fires in older properties and is something that only a thorough inspection will uncover.

Power Points and Light Switches

Every accessible power point and light switch is tested for correct wiring (active, neutral, and earth connections in the right positions), physical damage (cracked faceplates, loose mounting, heat discolouration), earth continuity (confirming the earth connection is intact), and polarity (confirming the active and neutral are not reversed). A single reversed-polarity power point is a serious safety hazard that can electrify the metal casing of an appliance.

Smoke Alarms

The inspection includes checking that smoke alarms are installed in correct locations (at least one per level, between sleeping areas and the rest of the home), are the correct type (photoelectric, certified to AS 3786:2014), are within their 10-year lifespan, are operational (functional test), and for rental properties, are hardwired where required and interconnected in new builds.

Earthing System

The earthing system is your last line of defence if all other protection fails. The electrician will test the earth resistance to confirm it is within acceptable limits (typically below 1 ohm for a domestic installation) and inspect the earth electrode and bonding connections. Poor earthing can render RCDs less effective and increase the risk of electric shock from faulty appliances.

External Electrical Installations

Outdoor power points, garden lighting, shed or garage wiring, pool or spa equipment, and solar inverter installations are all part of the inspection scope. Outdoor installations are particularly susceptible to weathering and insect damage and often deteriorate faster than indoor installations.

What the Inspection Costs

Inspection Type	Typical Cost (incl. GST)
Standard residential inspection (2 to 3 bed)	$200 to $350
Larger home (4+ bed, multiple levels)	$300 to $500
Rental property compliance check	$200 to $350
Pre-purchase electrical inspection	$250 to $400
Commercial premises inspection	$400 to $800+

These prices cover the inspection itself and a written report detailing the findings. They do not include the cost of any rectification work identified during the inspection. If faults are found, the electrician will provide a separate quote for the repairs.

What Happens After the Inspection

After the inspection, you will receive a written report that documents what was inspected, the condition of each component assessed, any faults, hazards, or non-compliant items identified, and recommended actions, categorised by urgency.

Findings are typically classified as:

Urgent/Immediate: Safety hazards that require immediate attention. Examples include exposed live wiring, failed RCDs, missing earth connections, and damaged switchboard components. These should be addressed before the next use of the affected circuits.

Required (Non-Urgent): Items that are non-compliant or deteriorating but do not pose an immediate danger. Examples include wiring insulation that is degrading but not yet exposed, single-pole switching on lighting circuits, and outdated switchboard labelling. These should be addressed within a reasonable timeframe (typically 1 to 3 months).

Advisory: Recommendations for improvement that are not legally required but would enhance safety or efficiency. Examples include adding RCD protection to circuits that are not currently protected, upgrading to LED lighting, and installing surge protection.

The Certificate of Electrical Safety

It is important to distinguish between an electrical safety inspection and a Certificate of Electrical Safety (COES). They are related but different documents.

An electrical safety inspection is an assessment of the current condition of your electrical installation. It results in a report.

A Certificate of Electrical Safety is a legal document issued after prescribed electrical work has been performed. It certifies that the specific work completed complies with AS/NZS 3000 and Victorian regulations. A COES is issued when work is done, not when an inspection finds no issues.

If your inspection reveals faults that require electrical work to rectify, the electrician will issue a COES for that rectification work once it is completed.

Pre-Purchase Electrical Inspections

If you are buying a property in Melbourne, a pre-purchase electrical inspection is one of the best investments you can make during the due diligence period. A standard building inspection often does not cover the electrical system in depth. The building inspector may note visible issues (such as an old switchboard or a missing power point cover), but they do not test circuits, check RCDs, or assess wiring condition.

A dedicated electrical inspection before purchase can reveal the true age and condition of the wiring (and whether a rewire is likely needed in the near future), whether the switchboard needs upgrading, whether the previous owner performed unlicensed electrical work (a surprisingly common finding), and the estimated cost of bringing the electrical system up to current standards.

This information can be used to negotiate the purchase price or to budget for post-purchase upgrades. We have seen numerous cases where a pre-purchase inspection revealed $5,000 to $15,000 in necessary electrical upgrades that the buyer would otherwise have discovered only after settlement.

How to Prepare for an Inspection

To help your electrician conduct a thorough inspection efficiently, ensure clear access to the switchboard (move any items stored in front of it), clear access to the roof cavity if applicable (the electrician may need to inspect wiring in the ceiling space), access to all rooms, including locked areas and garages, a list of any electrical issues you have noticed (flickering lights, warm power points, tripping switches), and documentation of any electrical work done on the property (previous inspection reports, certificates, renovation records).

The inspection itself typically takes 1 to 2 hours for a standard three-bedroom home, longer for larger or older properties with more complex electrical systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an electrical safety inspection cost in Melbourne?

A standard residential electrical safety inspection costs $200 to $350 for a two to three bedroom home and $300 to $500 for larger properties. Rental property compliance checks fall within the same range. The price includes the inspection and a written report. Rectification work, if needed, is quoted separately.

How often do rental properties need an electrical safety inspection in Victoria?

Every two years. This is a legal requirement under the Residential Tenancies Regulations 2021 for all Victorian rental properties. The inspection must be conducted by a licensed electrician, and the landlord must retain the report and make it available to tenants on request.

What does an electrician check during a safety inspection?

The inspection covers the switchboard (condition, circuit breakers, RCDs), all accessible wiring (insulation condition, cable integrity), power points and light switches (correct wiring, physical condition), smoke alarms (type, placement, function, expiry), the earthing system (resistance testing), and external installations (outdoor power, garden lighting, sheds).

Do I need an electrical inspection before selling my house?

It is not legally required for owner-occupied homes, but it is strongly recommended. A pre-sale inspection identifies issues that could arise during the buyer’s due diligence, allows you to rectify problems before listing, and demonstrates transparency to potential buyers. It can prevent last-minute price renegotiations or failed sales.

What happens if faults are found during the inspection?

The electrician will document all findings in a written report, categorised by urgency: immediate safety hazards, required non-urgent repairs, and advisory recommendations. They will provide a separate quote for any rectification work. For rental properties, urgent items must be addressed promptly to maintain compliance.

Is an electrical inspection the same as a Certificate of Electrical Safety?

No. An electrical safety inspection is an assessment of your existing installation that produces a report. A Certificate of Electrical Safety is a legal document issued after prescribed electrical work is completed, certifying that the work complies with AS/NZS 3000. If inspection findings require rectification work, a COES is issued for that work once completed.

How long does an electrical safety inspection take?

A standard three-bedroom home takes 1 to 2 hours. Larger homes, older properties, or those with extensive electrical systems (solar, battery storage, pool equipment) may take 2 to 3 hours. The electrician will advise on expected duration when booking.

Can a tenant request an electrical safety inspection?

Yes. Victorian tenants have the right to request a copy of the most recent electrical safety check from their landlord or property manager. If the property has not been inspected within the required two-year cycle, the tenant can request that an inspection be arranged. If the landlord does not comply, the tenant can contact Consumer Affairs Victoria.